Mrs.Val shook hands with him much in her usual way, but still with an air of importance in her face; the Frenchman was delighted to see M.Tudere, and the Honourable Val got up from his chair, said 'How do ?' and then sat down again.
'I requested you to call, Mr.Tudor,' said Mrs.Val, opening her tale in a most ceremonious manner, 'because we all think it necessary to know somewhat more than has yet been told to us of the manner in which my daughter's money has been invested.' Captain Val wiped his moustache with the middle finger of his right hand, by way of saying that he quite assented to his wife's proposition; and Victoire remarked that 'Madame was a leetle anxious, just a leetle anxious; not that anything could be wrong with M.Tudere, but because she was one excellent mamma.' 'I thought you knew, Mrs.Scott,' said Alaric, 'that your daughter's money is in the funds.' 'Then I may understand clearly that none of the amount so invested has been sold out or otherwise appropriated by you.' said Mrs.Val.
'Will you allow me to inquire what has given rise to these questions just at the present moment ?' asked Alaric.
'Yes, certainly,' said Mrs.Val; 'rumours have reached my husband--rumours which, I am happy to say, I do not believe--that my daughter's money has been used for purposes of speculation.' Whereupon Captain Val again wiped his upper lip, but did not find it necessary to speak.
'May I venture to ask Captain Scott from what source such rumours have reached him!' 'Ah-ha-what source?
d---- lies, very likely; d---- lies, I dare say; but people do talk--eh--you know,' so much the eloquent embryo member for Strathbogy vouchsafed.
'And therefore, Mr.Tudor, you mustn't be surprised that we should ask you this question.' 'It is one simple, simple question,' said Victoire, 'and if M.
Tudere will say that it is all right, I, for myself, will be satisfied.' The amiable Victoire, to tell the truth, was still quite satisfied to leave his wife's income in Alaric's hands, and would not have been at all satisfied to remove it to the hands of his respected step-papa-in-law, or even his admired mamma-in-law.
'When I undertook this trust,' said Alaric, 'which I did with considerable hesitation, I certainly did not expect to be subjected to any such cross-examination as this.

I consider such questions as insults, and therefore I shall refuse to answer them.

You, Mrs.Scott, have of course a right to look after your daughter's interests, as has M.Jaquetanape to look after those of his wife; but I will not acknowledge that Captain Scott has any such right whatsoever, nor can I think that his conduct in this matter is disinterested;' and as he spoke he looked at Captain Val, but he might just as well have looked at the door; Captain Val only wiped his moustache with his finger once more.
'My answer to your inquiries, Mrs.Scott, is this--I shall not condescend to go into any details as to Madame Jaquetanape 's fortune with anyone but my co-trustee.

I shall, however, on Saturday next, be ready to give up my trust to any other person who may be legally appointed to receive it, and will then produce all the property that has been entrusted to my keeping:' and so saying, Alaric got up and took his hat as though to depart.
'And do you mean to say, Mr.Tudor, that you will not answer my question ?' said Mrs.Scott.
'I mean to say, most positively, that I will answer no questions,' said Alaric.
'Oh, confound, not do at all; d----,' said the captain.

'The girl's money all gone, and you won't answer questions!' 'No!' shouted Alaric, walking across the room till he closely confronted the captain.