Is it so unpleasant for a man who thinks he is penniless to be told that he has made the year's income of a cabinet minister ?" "I don't understand," he returned helplessly.
"You talk as though you had never read my letter.
"I never have read your letter," he replied in bewilderment.
Her face had the flush of honest anger.

"You do not dare to tell me you destroyed my letter without reading it--that you destroyed all that letter contained simply because you no longer cared for your wife; because you wanted to be rid of her, wanted to vanish and never see her any more, and so go and leave no trace of yourself! You have the courage here to my face"-- the comedy of the situation gained much from the mock indignation--she no longer had any compunctions--"to say that you destroyed my letter and what it contained--a small fortune it would be out here." "I did not destroy your letter, Mona," was the embarrassed response.
"Then what did you do with it?
Gave it to some one else to read--to some other woman, perhaps." He was really shocked and greatly pained.

"Hush! You shall not say that kind of thing, Mona.

I've never had anything to do with any woman but my wife since I married her." "Then what did you do with the letter ?" "It's there," he said, pointing to the high desk with the green baize top.
"And you say you have never read it ?" "Never." She raised her head with dainty haughtiness.

"Then if you have still the same sense of honour that made you keep faith with the bookmakers--you didn't run away from them!--read it now, here in my presence.