"Oh yes, certainly;" whereupon Mr. Greene undid one of the rolls and
extracted eight sovereigns. "I believe that will make it right, sir,"
said he, handing them to me.

I took the gold, slipped it with an indifferent air into my waistcoat
pocket, and then refolded my arms across my breast.

"Papa," said Sophonisba, in a very audible whisper, "Mr. Robinson went
for you to Como. Indeed, I believe he says he went to Milan."

"Do not let that be mentioned," said I.

"By all means pay him his expenses," said Mrs. Greene; "I would not
owe him anything for worlds."

"He should be paid," said Sophonisba.

"Oh, certainly," said Mr. Greene. And he at once extracted another
sovereign, and tendered it to me in the face of the assembled
multitude.

This was too much! "Mr. Greene," said I, "I intended to be of service
to you when I went to Milan, and you are very welcome to the benefit
of my intentions. The expense of that journey, whatever may be its
amount, is my own affair." And I remained standing with my closed
arms.

"We will be under no obligation to him," said Mrs. Greene; "and I
shall insist on his taking the money."