“Very well.  When I am love-lorn I will.  Now, what have you got to tell me?”

“I have lent a man a large sum of money,—­two hundred and twenty-seven pounds!”

“You are always lending people large sums of money.”

“I generally get it back again.”

“From Mr. Carroll, for instance,—­when he borrows it for a pair of breeches and spends it in gin-and-water.”

“I never lent him a shilling.  He is a burr, and has to be pacified, not by loans but gifts.  It is too late now for me to prevent the brother-in-lawship of poor Carroll.”

“Who has got this money?”

“A professed gambler, who never wins anything, and constantly loses more than he is able to pay.  Yet I do think this man will pay me some day.”

“It is Captain Scarborough,” said Dolly.  “Seeing that his father is a very rich man indeed, and as far as I can understand gives you a great deal more trouble than he is worth, I don’t see why you should lend a large sum of money to his son.”

“Simply because he wanted it.”

“Oh dear! oh dear!”

“He wanted it very much.  He had gone away a ruined man because of his gambling; and now, when he had come back and was to be put upon his legs again, I could not see him again ruined for the need of such a sum.  It was very foolish.”

“Perhaps a little rash, papa.”

“But now I have told you; and so there may be an end of it.  But I’ll tell you what, Dolly:  I’ll bet you a new straw hat he pays me within a month of his father’s death.”  Then Dolly was allowed to escape and betake herself to her bed.

On that same day Mountjoy Scarborough went down to Tretton, and was at once closeted with his father.  Mr. Scarborough had questions to ask about Mr. Prosper, and was anxious to know how his son had succeeded in his mission.  But the conversation was soon turned from Mr. Prosper to Captain Vignolles and Mr. Grey.  Mountjoy had determined, as soon as he had got the check from Mr. Grey, to say nothing about it to his father.  He had told Mr. Grey in order that he need not tell his father,—­if the money were forthcoming.  But he had not been five minutes in his father’s room before he rushed to the subject.  “You got among those birds of prey again?” said his father.

“There was only one bird,—­or at least two.  A big bird and a small one.”

“And you lost how much?” Then the captain told the precise sum.  “And Grey has lent it you?” The captain nodded his head.  “Then you must ride into Tretton and catch the mail to-night with a check to repay him.  That you should have been able in so short a time to have found a man willing to fleece you!  I suppose it’s hopeless?”

“I cannot tell.”

“Altogether hopeless.”

“What am I to say, sir?  If I make a promise it will go for nothing.”

“For absolutely nothing.”

“Then what would be the use of my promising?”