also all funded moneys."

"Everything; every stick and stone; every scrip and debenture, you
may swear. The rental of the estates for years back would have to be
accounted for--with interest."

"Sedley does not say so," said Temple, in a tone of considerable
irritation.

"These fellows never do; they always imply there is a game to be
played, an issue to be waited for, else their occupation were gone. How
much of all this story was known to your sister Marion?"

"Nothing. Neither she nor any of us ever suspected it."

"It's always the same thing," said the Viscount, as he arose and
settled his wig before the glass. "The same episode goes on repeating
itself forever. These trade fortunes are just card-houses; they are
raised in a night, and blown away in the morning."

"You forget, my Lord, that my father inherited an entailed estate."

"Which turns out not to have been his," replied he, with a grin.

"You are going too fast, my Lord, faster than judge and jury. Sedley
never took a very serious view of this claim, and he only concurred in
the attempt to compromise it out of deference to my father's dislike to
public scandal."

"And a very wise antipathy it was, I must say. No gentleman ever
consulted his self-respect by inviting the world to criticise his
private affairs. And how does this pleasing incident stand now? In which
act of the drama are we at this moment? Is there an action at law, or
are we in the stage of compromise?"

"This is what Augustus says," said Temple, taking the letter from
his pocket and reading: "'Sedley thinks that a handsome offer of a sum
down--say twenty thousand pounds--might possibly be accepted; but to
meet this would require a united effort by all of us. Would Lord Culduff
be disposed to accept his share in this liability? Would he, I mean, be
willing to devote a portion of Marion's fortune to this object, seeing
that he is now one of us? I have engaged Cutbill to go over to Paris and
confer with him, and he will probably arrive there by Tuesday. Nelly
has placed at my disposal the only sum over which she has exclusive
control--it is but two thousand pounds. As for Jack, matters have gone
very ill with him, and rather than accept a court-martial, he has
thrown up his commission and left the service. We are expecting him here
to-night, but only to say good-bye, as he sails for China on Thursday.'"

Lord Culduflf walked quietly towards the chimney-piece as Temple
concluded, and