Stella was in tears by that time. It took a lot to make Stella cry, but Chrissie had accused her of ingratitude and cruelty, of deception and lying and even of stealing by her stupidity about the money which might have brought them security from starvation.

‘Oh, don’t go on so, Chrissie dear,’ Stella begged at length. I’m sorry, and I’ve said I’m sorry. If I hadn’t been so stupid I wouldn’t have told you that I’d spoken to Mademoiselle Fântóme or said anything about giving the money back to the Rajah.’

‘Tell me! Of course you’d tell me!’ Chrissie said. ‘The day that you can keep anything to yourself I shall fall down dead with surprise. If I wasn’t here to look after you, you’d starve within a week – if someone didn’t shut you up in a lunatic asylum first. What success you’ve had has been due to me and me only, and don’t you forget it.’

‘I never do, Chrissie,’ Stella said miserably. ‘Please don’t be so cross with me.’

But Chrissie could not be placated and when finally the agony of her aching head sent her to her bedroom, her shrill voice was still upbraiding Stella as she went upstairs.

She sighed now and nuzzled her cheek a little deeper against the soft pillow. Thank goodness her headache was gone. She had felt as if it would split her brain in half. She wondered how long she had been asleep, and found that without moving she could read the hands of the clock which stood on the mantelpiece.

It was nearly five o’clock. She must have slept for over two and a half hours. Well, she felt better for it, strong enough to instil some sense into Stella before the evening, when she would see the Rajah.

The idiocy of the girl was unbelievable. All that money hers for the asking and she couldn’t even frame the words! She had always been the same, Chrissie thought angrily. She had never been able to exploit her good looks and the opportunities they had brought her.

She remembered the fuss there had been over Stella’s first admirer – the first man who had ever offered her his protection. Stella – the silly little fool – had made a terrible to do.

There was no doubt that the gentleman was elderly and inclined to drink too much, but what did that matter when he was so rich? Chrissie recalled the scenes she had had with Stella before she could get her to do what she wanted.