“Yes, my dear friend, why not, though Barbara does not want money, for she has plenty of her own, in first-class securities that I could never persuade her to vary, for she is shrewd in that way and steadily refuses to sign anything.  Also she will probably be my heiress—­and, Aylward,” here a sickly look of alarm spread itself over his face, “I don’t know how long I have to live.  That infernal doctor examined my heart this morning and told me that it was weak.  Weak was his word, but from the tone in which he said it, I believe that he meant more.  Aylward, I gather that I may die any day.”

“Nonsense, Haswell, so may we all,” he replied, with an affectation of cheerfulness which failed to carry conviction.

Presently Mr. Haswell, who had hidden his face in his hand, looked up with a sigh and said: 

“Oh! yes, of course you have my support, for after all she is my only relation and I should be glad to see her safely married.  Also, as it happens, she can’t marry anyone without my consent, at any rate until she is five and twenty, for if she does, under her father’s will all her property goes away, most of it to charities, except a beggarly L200 a year.  You see my brother John had a great horror of imprudent marriages and a still greater belief in me, which as it chances, is a good thing for you.”

“Had he?” said Sir Robert.  “And pray why is it a good thing for me?”

“Because, my dear Aylward, unless my observation is at fault, there is another Richard in the field, our late partner, Vernon, of whom, by the way, Barbara is extremely fond, though it may only be in a friendly fashion.  At any rate she pays more attention to his wishes and opinions than to mine and yours put together.”

At the mention of Alan’s name Aylward started violently.

“I feared it,” he said, “and he is more than ten years my junior and a soldier, not a man of business.  Also there is no use disguising the truth, although I am a baronet and shall be a peer and he is nothing but a beggarly country gentleman with a D.S.O. tacked on to his name, he belongs to a different class to us, as she does too on her mother’s side.  Well, I can smash him up, for you remember I took over that mortgage on Yarleys, and I’ll do it if necessary.  Practically our friend has not a shilling that he can call his own.  Therefore, Haswell, unless you play me false, which I don’t think you will, for I can be a nasty enemy,” he added with a threat in his voice, “Alan Vernon hasn’t much chance in that direction.”

“I don’t know, Aylward, I don’t know,” replied Haswell, shaking his white head.  “Barbara is a strong-willed woman and she might choose to take the man and let the money go, and then—­who can stop her?  Also I don’t like your idea of smashing Vernon.  It isn’t right, and it may come back on our own heads, especially yours.  I am sorry that he has left us, as you were on Friday night, for somehow he was a good, honest stick to lean on, and we want such a stick.  But I am tired now, I really can’t talk any more.  The doctor warned me against excitement.  Get the girl’s consent, Aylward, and we’ll see.  Ah! here comes my soup.  Good-bye for the present.”