She glanced at her friend when he came in, but did not speak, and he began to walk up and down on the other side of the table, with his hands behind him.
'You've got pretty good nerves,' he said presently.
'Yes,' answered Lady Maud, still watching the coals, 'they really are rather good.' A long silence followed, during which she did not move and Mr.Van Torp steadily paced the floor.
'I didn't tell a fib, either,' she said at last.

'It's charity, in its way.' 'Certainly,' assented her friend.

'What isn't either purchase-money or interest, or taxes, or a bribe, or a loan, or a premium, or a present, or blackmail, must be charity, because it must be something, and it isn't anything else you can name.' 'A present may be a charity,' said Lady Maud, still thoughtful.
'Yes,' answered Mr.Van Torp.

'It may be, but it isn't always.' He walked twice the length of the room before he spoke again.
'Do you think it's really to be war this time ?' he asked, stopping beside the table.

'Because if it is, I'll see a lawyer before I go to Derbyshire.' Lady Maud looked up with a bright smile.