It strained my own belief that men should be so callous, until this Cahusac afforded me the explanation." "What ?" She checked her unbelief, an unbelief that had uplifted her from an inexplicable dismay.

Clutching the rail, she swung round to face his lordship with that question.

Later he was to remember and perceive in her present behaviour a certain oddness which went disregarded now.
"Blood purchased their consent, and his right to carry the girl off.

He paid them in pearls that were worth more than twenty thousand pieces of eight." His lordship laughed again with a touch of contempt.

"A handsome price! Faith, they're scoundrels all--just thieving, venal curs.