may make all the difference to you."

Drake looked at his cigarette steadily.

"I've no reason to complain, sir; and I don't," he said. "You might have
married years ago, and I'm rather surprised you didn't."

The earl grunted.

"I don't suppose I should have done so now, if you hadn't been such a
stubborn young ass. That put my back up. But though I don't regret what
I've done--no, by Jove!--I don't want you to think I am utterly
regardless of your future. This port improves, doesn't it? Of course,
you may be knocked out of the succession now----"

"Most probably so, I should think," said Drake.

"Just so. And, therefore, it's only right that I should do something for
you."

"You are very good, sir," said Drake.

The earl colored slightly.

"Now look here, Drake; I'm always suspicious of that d----d quiet way of
yours! I was very glad when Lady Angleford told me that you were coming
here, and I made up my mind that I would let bygones be bygones and act
squarely by you. As I said, I'm not a bit sorry that I married; no,
indeed!--you've seen Lady Angleford--but I don't want to leave you in
the lurch. I don't want you to suffer more than--than can be helped.
I've been thinking the matter over, and I'll tell you what I'll do. Have
some more port."

Unluckily for Drake, the old man filled his own glass before passing the
bottle. Drake sipped his port and waited, and the earl went on:

"Of course, I meant to continue your allowance; but I can see that under
the circumstances that wouldn't be sufficient. Something might happen to
me----"

"I sincerely trust nothing will happen to you, sir," said Drake.

The earl grunted.

"Well, I'm not so young as I was; and I might get chucked off my horse,
or--or something of that sort; and then you'd be in a hole, I imagine;
for I suppose you've got through most of your mother's money?"

"A great deal of it," admitted Drake.

"Yes; I thought so. Well, look here; I'll tell you what I'll do, Drake.
As you may know, Lady Angleford has a fortune of her own. Her father was
a millionaire. That leaves me free to do what I like with my own money.
Now, I'll settle ten thousand a year on you, Drake--but on one
condition."

Drake was considerably startled. After all, ten thousand a year is a
large sum; and though the earl was immensely rich, Drake had not
expected him to be so liberal. On ten thousand a year one can manage
very comfortably, even in England. Drake thought of h