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 square her. That's as plain as a pikestaff," said Mr. James.

"She shall be squared!" cried Hilary Vance with an heroic air. Then his face fell, and he added, "Am I justified? Suppose the poor girl really loves. You say I was impassioned; and when I am impassioned—"

"Oh, get out!" said Mr. James in a tone of some exasperation.

"No, no! It's no good saying 'Get out!' I know what I am when I'm impassioned—I know the effect—the female heart—"

"Oh, drop the female heart!" said Mr. James. "Let's keep to the question of squaring. I expect it's going to cost you fifty pounds at least."

Hilary Vance's face fell. "Fifty pounds?" he said in a tone of humiliation. "Do you really think that fifty pounds—a paltry fifty pounds—would really compensate her for the loss of me?"

"Knowing you as I do, and speaking from my heart, I can honestly say that a paltry fifty shillings would amply compensate any woman for the loss of you," said Mr. James with intense but unkind