"
"We will see about that." And with this understanding the men of business
parted. Dr. Wolf consulted Mrs. Archbold then and there.
"Impossible," said she; "the law would dissolve such a bargain, and you
would be exposed and ruined."
"But a thousand pounds!" said the poor doctor.
"Oh, he offered me more than that," said Mrs. Archbold.
"You don't mean to say so; when was that?"
"Do you remember one Sunday that I walked him out, to keep clear of Mrs.
Dodd? Have you not observed that I have not repeated the experiment?"
"Yes. But I really don't know why."
"Will you promise me faithfully not to take any notice if I tell you?"
The doctor promised.
Then she owned to him with manifest reluctance that Alfred had taken
advantage of her kindness, her indiscretion, in walking alone with him,
and made passionate love to her. "He offered me not a thousand pounds,"
said she, "but his whole fortune, and his heart, if I would fly with him
from _these odious walls;_ that was his expression."
Then seeing out of a corner of her eye that the doctor was turning almost
green with jealousy, this artist proceeded to describe the love scene
between her and Alfred, with feigned hesitation, yet minute detail.
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