she said nothing; so he added: "I've tried to turn off some little
sketches, but the magazines won't have them--they're declined with
thanks."

"You see then you're not such a phoenix," his visitor pointedly
smiled--"to pretend to abilities you're sacrificing for our sake."

"I haven't time to do things properly," he ruefully went on. Then as it
came over him that he was almost abjectly good-natured to give these
explanations he added: "If I stay on longer it must be on one
condition--that Morgan shall know distinctly on what footing I am."

Mrs. Moreen demurred. "Surely you don't want to show off to a child?"

"To show _you_ off, do you mean?"

Again she cast about, but this time it was to produce a still finer
flower. "And _you_ talk of blackmail!"

"You can easily prevent it," said Pemberton.

"And _you_ talk of practising on fears," she bravely pushed on.

"Yes, there's no doubt I'm a great scoundrel."

His patroness met his eyes--it was clear she was in straits. Then she
thrust out her money at him. "Mr. Moreen desired me to give you this on
account."

"I'm much obliged to Mr. Moreen, but we _have_ no account."