Mr Lavenham just asked if you were still importuning Eustacie to marry you.' 'Why should I be doing anything of the sort?' 'On account of her being an heiress,' explained Sarah. Sir Tristram said dryly: 'Of course. I should have thought of that. I trust neither of you will hesitate to vilify my character whenever it seems expedient to you to do so.' 'No, of course we shall not,' Miss Thane assured him. 'But you do not mind, mon cousin, do you?' 'On the contrary, I am becoming quite accustomed to it. But I am afraid even your imagination must fail soon. I have been in swift succession a tyrant, a thief and a murderer, and now a fortune-hunter. There is really nothing left.' 'Oh!' said Ludovic gaily, 'we have acquitted you of theft and murder, you know.' 'True,' Shield retorted. 'But as your acquittals are invariably accompanied by fresh and more outrageous slanders, I almost dread the moment when you acquit me of fortune-hunting.