“I am sorry for it, Lady Bellamy, as I cannot——­”

“One moment, Mr. Caresfoot; first let me tell you his offer, then we can talk it over.  He offers, conditionally on his marriage with your daughter, to sell you the Isleworth estates at a fair valuation hereafter to be agreed upon, and to make a large settlement.”

“And what part does he wish me to play in the matter?”

“This.  First, you must get rid of young Heigham, and prevent him from holding any communication, either with Angela herself, or with any other person connected with this place, for one year from the date of his departure.  Secondly, you must throw no obstacle in George’s path.  Thirdly, if required, you must dismiss her old nurse, Pigott.”

“It cannot be, Lady Bellamy.  I came here to tell you so.  I dare not force my daughter into such a marriage for all the estates in England.”

Lady Bellamy laughed.

“It is amusing,” she said, “to see a father afraid of his own daughter; but you are over-hasty, Mr. Caresfoot.  Who asked you to force her?  All you are asked to do is not to interfere, and leave the rest to myself and George.  You will have nothing to do with it one way or the other, nor will any responsibility rest with you.  Besides, it is very probable that your cousin will live down his fancy, or some other obstacle will arise to put an end to the thing, in which case Mr. Heigham will come back at the end of his year’s probation, and events will take their natural course.  It is only wise and right that you should try the constancy of these young lovers, instead of letting them marry out of hand.  If, on the other hand, Angela should in the course of the year declare a preference for her cousin, surely that will be no affair of yours.”

“I don’t understand what your interest is in this matter, Lady Bellamy.”

“My dear Mr. Caresfoot, what does my interest matter to you?  Perhaps I have one, perhaps I have not; all women love match-making, you know; what really is important is your decision,” and she shot a glance at him from the heavy-lidded eyes, only to recognize that he was not convinced by her arguments, or, if convinced, obstinate.  “By the way,” she went on, slowly, “George asked me to make a payment to you on his account, money that has, he says, been long owing, but which it has not hitherto been convenient to repay.”

“What is the sum?” asked Philip, abstractedly.

“A large one; a thousand pounds.”

It did not require the peculiar intonation she threw into her voice to make the matter clear to him.  He was well aware that no such sum was owing.

“Here is the cheque,” she went on; and, taking from her purse a signed and crossed cheque upon a London banker, she unfolded it and threw it upon the table, watching him the while.

Philip gazed at the money with the eyes of a hungry wolf.  A thousand pounds!  That might be his for the asking, nay, for the taking.  It would bind him to nothing.  The miser’s greed took possession of him as he looked.  Slowly he raised his hand, twitching with excitement, and stretched it out towards the cheque, but, before his fingers touched it, Lady Bellamy, as though by accident, dropped her white palm upon the precious paper.