“H’m!  That’s pretty strong,” the first speaker remarked.  “I should think that that ought to stay the flow of subscriptions.”

Lord Arranmore, who was standing on the hearthrug smoking a cigarette, joined languidly in the conversation.

You think that Brooks ought to take some notice of Lavilette’s impudence, then?”

“Well, I’m afraid his not doing so looks rather fishy,” the first speaker remarked.  “That thousand pounds note must have been a sort of a myth.”

“I think not,” Lord Arranmore remarked, quietly.  “I ought to know, for I sent it myself,”

Every man straightened himself in his easy-chair.  There was a little thrill of interest.

“You’re joking, Arranmore.”

“Not I!  I’ve sent him three amounts—­anonymously.”

“Well, I’d no idea that sort of thing was in your line,” one of the men exclaimed.

“More it is,” Arranmore answered.  “Personally, I don’t believe in charity—­in any modern application of it at any rate.  But this man Brooks is a decent sort.”

“You know who Brooks is, then?”

“Certainly.  He was my agent for a short time in Medchester.”

Mr. Hennibul, who was one of the men sitting round, doubled his copy of Verity up and beat the air with it.

“I knew I’d heard the name,” he exclaimed.  “Why, I’ve met him down at Enton.  Nice-looking young fellow.”

Arranmore nodded.

“Yes.  That was Brooks.”

Mr. Hennibul’s face beamed.

“Great Scott, what a haul!” he exclaimed.  “Why, you’ve got old Lavilette on toast—­you’ve got him for suing damages too.  If this is why Brooks has been hanging back—­just to let him go far enough—­by Jove, he’s a smart chap.”

“I don’t fancy Brooks has any idea of the sort,” Lord Arranmore answered.  “All the same I think that Lavilette must be stopped and made to climb down.”

Curiously enough he met Brooks the same afternoon in Lady Caroom’s drawing-room.

“This is fortunate,” he remarked.  “I wished for a few minutes’ conversation with you.”

“I am at your service,” Brooks answered, quietly.

The room was fairly full, so they moved a little on one side.  Lord Arranmore for a moment or two studied his son’s face in silence.

“You show signs of the struggle,” he remarked.

“I have been overworked,” Brooks answered.  “A week or two’s holiday is all I require—­and that I am having.  As for the rest,” he answered, looking Lord Arranmore in the face, “I am not discouraged.  I am not even depressed.”

“I congratulate you—­upon your zeal.”

“You are very good.”

“I was going to speak to you,” Lord Arranmore continued, “concerning the paragraph in this week’s Verity, and these other attacks which you seem to have provoked.”

Brooks smiled.

“You too!” he exclaimed.

“I also!” Lord Arranmore admitted, coolly.  “You scarcely see how it concerns me, of course, but in a remote sense it does.”