were dead tired. But he showed so much
shrewdness in his various remarks that the solicitor secretly admitted
his capacity, reflecting indeed once or twice that, young as he was, it
would have been a good thing if his father had taken him into counsel
earlier. After the discussion had lasted half an hour, Falloden pushed
the papers away.

"I think I see. The broad facts are that my father can raise no more
money, either on his securities, or on the land; his two banks are
pressing him; and the Scotch mortgages must be paid. The estates, of
course, will have to be sold. I am quite willing."

"So I understand. But it will take time and the bank overdrafts are
urgent. Mason's Bank declare that if their debt is not paid--or freshly
secured--within a month from now, they will certainly take proceedings.
I must remind you they have been exceedingly forbearing."

"And the amount?" Falloden consulted his papers.

"Forty thousand. The securities on which Sir Arthur obtained it are now
not worth more than eight."

The lawyer paused a moment, looked at his companion, and at last said--

"There are, of course, your own expectations from Lord Dagnall. I do not
know whether you and your father have considered them. But I imagine it
would be possible to raise money on them."

Falloden laughed. The sound was a mixture of irritation and contempt.

"Uncommonly little! The fact is my uncle--at seventy-two--is
philandering with a lady-housekeeper he set up a year ago. She seems to
be bent on netting him, and my father thinks she'll do it. If she does,
my uncle will probably find himself with an heir of his own. Anyway the
value of my prospects is enormously less than it was. All the neighbours
are perfectly aware of what is going on. Oh, I suppose he'll leave me
something--enough to keep me out of the workhouse. But there's nothing
to be got out of it now."

There was another silence. Falloden pondered the figures before him.

"There are always the pictures," he said at last, looking up.

The lawyer's face lightened.

"If you and Sir Arthur will sell! But as you know they are heirlooms,
and you could stop it."

"On the contrary, I am ready to agree to it," said Falloden briefly.
"But there will be a lot of legal business, won't there?"

"Certainly. But it can all be put through in time. And directly it was
known that you would sell, the whole situation would be changed."

"We might save something out of the wreck?" said F