The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom Chapter 15

In which the crafty adventurer artfully ensnares the affections and resources of two devoted ladies under the guise of honourable distress, contriving a deceitful tale to extract their largesse for his own benefit. His contrivance reaches a climax when, touched by their genuine love and generosity, he reluctantly accepts a valuable token, feigning a struggle between pride and affection that adds a most romantic flourish to his manipulations.