But as regards himself, he was
fully conscious of the difference. The measure of his wealth was
the measure of his standing amongst them. Without it he would be
thrust forth - he could make no claim to association with them.
The thought filled him with a slow, bitter anger. He sent away
his soup untasted, and he could not find heart to speak to the girl
who had been the will-o'-the-wisp leading him into this evil plight.
Presently she addressed him.
"Mr. Trent!"
He turned round and looked at her.
"Is it necessary for me to remind you, I wonder," she said, "that
it is usual to address a few remarks - quite as a matter of form,
you know - to the woman whom you bring in to dinner?"
He eyed her dispassionately.
"I am not used to making conversation," he said. "Is there anything
in the world which I could talk about likely to interest you?"
She took a salted almond from a silver dish by his side and smiled
sweetly upon him. "Dear me!" she said, "how fierce! Don't attempt
it if you feel like that, please! What have you been doing since I
saw you last? - losing your money or your temper, or both?"
He looked at her with a curiously grim smile.
"If I lost the former," he said, "I should very soon cease to be a
person of interest, or of any account at all, amongst your friends.
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