Thorpe laughed in a peremptory, gusty way. "But you can't
pay more than I ask!" he told him, with rough geniality.
"Come, if I let you and your nephew in out of the cold,
what kind of men-folk would you be to insist that your niece
should be left outside? As I said, I don't want her money.
I don't want any woman's money. If I'm going to be nice
to the rest of the family, what's the objection to my being
nice to her?"

"Monsieur," said the Frenchman, after an instant's reflection,
"I offer none. I did not at the moment perceive the spirit
of your words, but I recognize now that it was delicacy itself.
I tender you the most profound thanks--for ALL the family."

After some further conversation the elder Fromentin
took his departure. Lord Chaldon apparently proposed
to accompany him, but Thorpe begged him to remain,
and he put aside his hat once more and resumed his seat.

Thorpe walked about a little, with his hands in his pockets,
in a restless way. "If it isn't unpleasant to you,
I think I'll light a cigar," he said suddenly, and moved
over to the cabinet. He poured out a drink of neat brandy,
as well, and furtively swallowed it. Then he came back,
preceded by a cloud of smoke.

"It went terribly against the grain," he said, with a
rueful laugh. "I'd sworn to let no Jew off with an inch
of hide left on him--and here three of them have been
wheedled out of my grip already."