"
"Well, yes; I should have said so myself. And I do flatter myself I
shall be missed. But what had I before me here? This may lead to
something."
"Indeed you will be missed, Mr. Green."
"It's very kind of you to say so."
"Patagonia! It is such a long way off!" Then she began to consider
whether he had ever heard of her engagement with the last
Minister-elect to that country. That he should know all about Lord
Rufford was a matter of course; but what chance could there be for
her if he also knew that other affair?
"We were intimately acquainted with Mr. Morton in Washington and
were surprised that he should have accepted it. Poor Morton. He was
a friend of mine. We used to call him the Paragon because he never
made mistakes. I had heard that you and Lady Augusta were a good
deal with him in Washington."
"We were, indeed. You do not know my good news as yet, I suppose.
Your Paragon, as you call him, has left me five thousand pounds."
Of course it would be necessary that he should know it some day if
this new plan of hers were to be carried out;--and if the plan
should fail, his knowing it could do no harm.
"How very nice for you. Poor Morton!"
"It is well that somebody should behave well, when others treat one
so badly, Mr. Green. Yes; he has left me five thousand pounds" Then
she showed him the lawyer's letter.
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