But what was the favour? If she would only ask for jewels,--though they were the Grand Duchess's diamond eardrops, he would endeavour to get them for her. If she would have quaffed molten pearls, like Cleopatra, he would have procured the beverage,--having first fortified himself with a medical opinion as to the fitness of the drink for a lady in her condition. There was no expenditure that he would not willingly incur for her, nothing costly that he would grudge. But when she asked for a favour, he was always afraid of an imprudence. Very possibly she might want to drink beer in an open garden.
And her request was, at last, of this nature: "I want you to take me up to the gambling-rooms!" said she.
"The gambling-rooms!" said Mr. Palliser in dismay.

But what was the favour? If she would only ask for jewels, he would get them for her. There was no expenditure that he would not willingly incur for her. But when she asked for a favour, he was always afraid of an imprudence. Very possibly she might want to drink beer in an open garden.
And her request was, at last, this: "I want you to take me up to the gambling-rooms!" said she.
"The gambling-rooms!" said Mr. Palliser in dismay.
