afraid not; in fact, I can say definitely that they will not," he
replied, in a hard, uncompromising way.

Stafford looked round the large, superbly furnished room, with its
book-cases of ebony and wedgewood, its costly pictures and bronzes, and
recalled the Villa with its luxury and splendour, and the vast sums
which Sir Stephen had spent during the last few months. It seemed
difficult to realise that the wealth was all gone.

"What is to be done?" he asked, in a low voice.

Mr. Falconer was silent for a moment, as he regarded the handsome face,
which seemed to have lost its aspect of youth and taken on the lines
and hollows of age.

"I do not know. It is not for me to say. There will be a meeting of the
directors of the South African Company and others to-morrow, and some
decision will be come to, I have no doubt."

"And I--I can do nothing?" said Stafford, huskily. "I am penniless, I
suppose?"

Both Murray and Mr. Chaffinch raised their heads with an air of
surprise.

"Penniless" echoed Mr. Chaffinch. "Certainly not, my lord! Surely you
know?"

Stafford regarded him gravely; it seemed as if he himself were too
crushed by his grief for surprise.

"Know?" he said. "What is in I should know? I do not understand." Mr.
Falconer coughed.

"We thought you were aware of the existence of the deed; that your
father had informed you, Lord Highcliffe."

"What deed?" asked Stafford, dully. "I am sorry to appear so dense; but
I have not the least idea of your meaning. As you say, Mr. Falconer, I
know nothing of business."

"It is evident that your father did not tell you that he executed a
deed of gift in your favour, a gift of one hundred thousand pounds,"
said Mr. Falconer.

"Which deed, being made when he was quite solvent, cannot be upset. The
money was placed in trust, and is quite beyond the reach of the
creditors," said Mr. Chaffinch. "We thought you were aware of this, my
lord."

Stafford shook his head. He evinced no sign of relief, the colour did
not rise to his face, and his eyes were still fixed on Falconer.

"It was a very wise provision," said Mr. Chaffinch, approvingly. "And
distinctly one I should have recommended; but Sir Stephen--Lord
Highcliffe--did it of his own accord. He was a far-seeing man, and he
was aware that fortune might fail him, that it was necessary he should
place you, my lord, out of danger. I can well believe that, even at
that time, he saw the peerage coming, and felt that