London on
purpose to see you--I must speak to you."

"I cannot dismiss him," she said, curtly. "He is not a footman to be
sent away at my pleasure. Tell me in few words what you want."

"I want money!" he said, with a very dark frown; "and money, Amelie, I
must have."

"I can give you none--you have no conscience. How much have you had
already?"

"I have kept no account." he replied; "and really what I have had is not
of the least consequence--it is what I have to get."

"That will be nothing from me," she replied. "I gave you a thousand
pounds three months ago, and you promised you would ask for no more."

"I did not foresee the present necessity," he said. "Amelie, I must have
money."

"Count Jules," said Lady Lisle, "you are a villain, who trades upon a
woman's fears!"

"My charming lady shall call me anything she will, but I must have the
money."

"I tell you," she replied, angrily, "that I have not got it, nor is it
any use asking my lord for it; he was angry the last time, and I shall
ask him no more."

"Then get it from some other source."

"There is no other source open to me," she replied.

The count's face darkened angrily.

"There need not be so many words about it, Lady Lisle. I must have the
money."

"By what right do you incessantly demand money from me?" she asked.

"You promised, in those happier days, to be my friend always; and as a
friend you have lent me money often. As a friend, I ask you for it
again."

"And as a friend," she retorted, "I refuse."

"Then I shall be obliged to adopt the very unpleasant alternative of
asking it from Lord Lisle."

"Lord Lisle would refuse it."

"He would give it to me as the means of purchasing my silence," he said.
"You forget, Lady Amelie, what I have to show Lord Lisle, if he does
refuse?"

"You mean my letters?" she said, indignantly. "You are coward enough to
threaten me with showing my husband the letters I was so mistaken as to
write to you?"

"I should be deeply grieved, indeed," he said, "but I have no other
alternative."

"And I mistook you for a gentleman," she said, with calm scorn.

"You were very kind to me, Lady Amelie," he said, with a polite sneer.

"I do not believe you have those letters," she said.

"I have, indeed. I have locked them up with the only two family
heirlooms I possess--a watch and a ring--in an ivory casket, and I go
nowhere without it."

"You must do your worst!" said Lady Amelie.

"Nay," he sai