“I shall not detain you ten minutes,” Lord Arranmore answered.  “There is a comfortable strangers’ room here where we can chat.  Will you have anything?”

“Nothing to drink, thanks,” Brooks answered.  “A cigarette, if you are going to smoke.”

Lord Arranmore pushed his cigarette-case across the small round table which stood between their easy-chairs.  The room was empty.

“You will find these tolerable.  I promised to be brief, did I not?  I wished to speak for a moment upon a subject which it seems to me might require a readjustment of our financial relations.”

Brooks looked up puzzled but made no remark.

“I refer to the possibility of your desiring to marry.  Be so good as not to interrupt me.  I have seen you once or twice with Sybil Caroom, and there has been a whisper—­but after all that is of no consequence.  The name of the young lady would be no concern of mine.  But in case you should be contemplating anything of the sort, I thought it as well that you should know what the usual family arrangements are.”

“I am sorry,” Brooks said, “but I really don’t understand what you mean by family arrangements.”

“No!” Lord Arranmore remarked, softly.  “Perhaps if you would allow me to explain—­it is your own time which is limited, you know.  The eldest son of our family comes in, as you have been told, on his twenty-first birthday, to two thousand pounds a year, which income you are now in possession of.  On his marriage that is increased to ten thousand a year, with the possession of either Enton or Mangohfred. in the present case you could take your choice, as I am perfectly indifferent which I retain.  That is all I wished to say.  I thought it best for you to understand the situation.  Mr. Ascough will, at any time, put it into legal shape for you.”

“You speak of this—­arrangement,” Brooks said, slowly, “as though it were a corroboration of the settlement upon the eldest son.  This scarcely seems possible.  There can be no such provision legally.”

“I scarcely see,” Lord Arranmore said, wearily, “what that has to do with it, The ten thousand pounds a year is, of course, not a legal charge upon the estates.  But from time immemorial it has been the amount which has been the admitted portion of the eldest son upon marriage.  It is no gift from me.  It is the income due to Lord Kingston of Ross.  If you wish for any future explanation I must really refer you to Mr. Ascough.  The discussion of business details is by no means a favourite occupation of mine.”

Brooks rose to his feet.  His eyes were fixed steadily, almost longingly upon Lord Arranmore’s.  His manner was not wholly free from nervousness.

“I am very much obliged to you, Lord Arranmore,” he said.  “I quite understand that you are making me the offer of a princely settlement out of the Arranmore estates to which I have no manner of claim.  It is not possible for me to accept it.”