"You pretend to be dead?"
"Yes. I _must_ have money. I have some left--a very little. I _must_
have money; and, in order to get it, I must be dead."
"How will that help?"
"Why, my dear, I am insured, and my insurances will be paid after my
death; but not before."
"Oh! must you get money--even by a----" She hesitated.
"Call it a conspiracy, my dear, if you please. As there is no other way
whatever left, I must get money that way."
"Oh, this is dreadful! A conspiracy, Harry? a--a--fraud?"
"If you please. That is the name which lawyers give to it."
"But oh, Harry!--it is a crime. It is a thing for which men are tried
and found guilty and sentenced."
"Certainly; if they are found out. Meantime, it is only the poor,
ignorant, clumsy fool who gets found out. In the City these things are
done every day. Quite as a matter of course," he added carelessly. "It
is not usual for men to take their wives into confidence, but in this
case I must take you into confidence: I have no choice, as you will
understand directly."
"Tell me, Harry, who first thought of this way?"
"Vimpany, of course. Oh! give him the credit where real cleverness is
concerned. Vimpany suggested the thing.
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