‘Beauty such as yours, my dear Sarnia, has power. But none of these is one tenth as powerful as money. The evidence is undeniable.’

‘But I deny it. Money only has power insofar as men permit it to dominate their thoughts. It is possible to be happy with very little. It may also be possible to be happy with much, but I know nothing of that. We are told, at any rate, that the love of money is the root of all evil.’

‘You speak warmly, cousin.’

‘With conviction, certainly. My mother had very little money, but we were happy together and felt no lack. We had friends, and did not mind what their names were.’

‘And do you still have them, now that your mother is dead and you have even less money – so little that you were obliged to take employment?’

It was a charge which pierced her defences, but she said stoutly:

‘They are there if I should need them. My life has greatly changed, and I have removed to another part of London.’

‘And if it should change once more – if you were to be rich, say – would you not acquire different friends, more suited to your status?’