"
"Yes, I remember perfectly. You gave me fifty pounds--fifty pounds for
the support of the house which enabled you to entrap your dupes, while
I was the bait to lure them to their ruin. Oh, you have been very
generous, very noble; and now that your dupes are tired of being
cheated--now that your cat's paw has become useless to you--I am to
leave the country, because you will not sacrifice one selfish desire to
save me from disgrace."
"This is absurd, Paulina," exclaimed the baronet, impatiently; "you
talk the usual nonsense women indulge in when they can't have
everything their own way. It is not in my power to help you to pay your
creditors, and you had much better slip quietly away while you are free
to do so, and before they contrive to get you into prison. You know
what Sheridan said about frittering away his money in paying his debts.
There's no knowing where to leave off if you once begin that sort of
thing."
"You would have me steal away in secret, like what you English call a
swindler!"
"You needn't dwell upon unpleasant names. Some of the best people in
England have been obliged to cross the water for the same reasons that
render your residence here unpleasant. There's nothing to be gained by
sentimental talk about the business, my dear Paulina. My friends at the
clubs have begun to grow suspicious of this house, and I don't think
there's a chance of my ever winning another sovereign in these rooms.
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