Not a word escaped her; she waited gravely to hear what the gentlemen wanted. Cosway, presuming on his position as favorite, produced the contents of the two pocketbooks and revealed the melancholy truth.
"There is all the money we have," he concluded. "We hope you will not object to receive the balance in a bill at three months"Mrs. Pounce answered with a stern composure of voice and manner entirely new in the experience of Cosway and Stone.
"I have paid ready money, gentlemen, for the hire of your horses and carriages," she said; "here are the receipts from the livery stables to vouch for me; I never accept bills unless I am quite sure beforehand that they will be honored. I defy you to find an overcharge in the account now rendered; and I expect you to pay it before you leave my house."Stone looked at his watch.