"
She spoke more abruptly, more nervously, than was her habit.
"I would if I could; but I don't know that I've any way of dissuading
him."
"You needn't dissuade him. You've simply to refuse to take his money."
"It's not quite so easy as that, because there's no direct business
between him and me. If Mr. Guion wanted to pay me what I've lent him, I
couldn't decline to accept it. Do you see?"
In the dim light he noticed her head nodding slowly. "Oh, so that's the
way it is? It would have to be done through papa?"
"It would have to be done through him. And if he preferred to use
Colonel Ashley's money rather than mine, I should have nothing at all to
say."
"I see; I see," she commented, thoughtfully. "And I don't know how papa
would feel about it, or how far I could count on him."
For a few minutes Davenant said nothing. When he spoke it was with some
amazement at his own temerity. "I thought you didn't want my help, if
you could possibly get any other?"
The words took her by surprise. He could see her draw her cloak more
tightly about her, her hands still within its folds.
"I felt that way at first. I don't now. Perhaps I understand you a
little better.
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