I spoke of my attempts to discover the whence and wherefore of it.

‘Government? eh?’ he sneered.

‘I really can’t judge whether it came from that quarter,’ said I.

‘What do you think?—­think it likely?’

I thought it unlikely, and yet likelier than that it should have come from an individual.

’Then you don’t suspect any particular person of having sent it in the nick of time, Harry Richmond?’

I replied:  ‘No, sir; unless you force me to suspect you.’

He jumped in his chair, astounded and wrathful, confounded me for insinuating that he was a Bedlamite, and demanded the impudent reason of my suspecting him to have been guilty of the infernal folly.

I had but the reason to instance that he was rich and kind at heart.

‘Rich! kind!’ he bellowed.  ’Just excuse me—­I must ask for the purpose of my inquiry;—­there, tell me, how much do you believe you ’ve got of that money remaining?  None o’ that Peterborough style of counting in the back of your pate.  Say!’

There was a dreadful silence.

My father leaned persuasively forward.

’Mr. Beltham, I crave permission to take up the word.  Allow me to remind you of the prize Harry has won.  The prince awaits you to bestow on him the hand of his daughter—­’

‘Out with it, Harry,’ shouted the squire.

‘Not to mention Harry’s seat in Parliament,’ my father resumed, ’he has a princess to wife, indubitably one of the most enviable positions in the country!  It is unnecessary to count on future honours; they may be alluded to.  In truth, sir, we make him the first man in the country.  Not necessarily Premier:  you take my meaning:  he possesses the combination of social influence and standing with political achievements, and rank and riches in addition—­’

’I ‘m speaking to my grandson, sir,’ the squire rejoined, shaking himself like a man rained on.  ’I ’m waiting for a plain answer, and no lie.  You’ve already confessed as much as that the money you told me on your honour you put out to interest; psh!—­for my grandson was smoke.  Now let’s hear him.’

My father called out:  ’I claim a hearing!  The money you speak of was put out to the very highest interest.  You have your grandson in Parliament, largely acquainted with the principal members of society, husband of an hereditary princess!  You have only at this moment to propose for her hand.  I guarantee it to you.  With that money I have won him everything.  Not that I would intimate to you that princesses are purchaseable.  The point is, I knew how to employ it.’

‘In two months’ time, the money in the Funds in the boy’s name—­you told me that.’

‘You had it in the Funds in Harry Richmond’s name, sir.’

‘Well, sir, I’m asking him whether it’s in the Funds now.’

‘Oh!  Mr. Beltham.’

‘What answer’s that?’

The squire was really confused by my father’s interruption, and lost sight of me.