"considering I was not brought up to this sort of thing. But the
alteration would be visible on close inspection. Cesarini must read the
letter to her, then if she glances over it herself it will be with
bewildered eyes and a dizzy brain. Above all, he must not leave it with
her, and must bind her to the closest secresy. She is honourable and
will keep her word; and so now that matter is settled. I have just time
before dinner to canter down to my uncle's and wish the old fellow joy."



CHAPTER V.

"And then my lord has much that he would state
All good to you."--CRABBE: /Tales of the Heart/.

LORD VARGRAVE was sitting alone in his library, with his account-books
before him. Carefully did he cast up the various sums which, invested
in various speculations, swelled his income. The result seemed
satisfactory--and the rich man threw down his pen with an air of
triumph.

"I will invest L120,000 in land--only L120,000. I will not be tempted
to sink more. I will have a fine house--a house fitting for a
nobleman--a fine old Elizabethan house--a house of historical interest.
I must have woods and lakes--and a deer-park, above all. Deer are very
gentlemanlike things, very. De Clifford's place is to be sold, I know;
they ask too much for it, but ready money is tempting. I can
bargain--bargain, I am a good hand at a bargain. Should I be now Lord
Baron Vargrave, if I had always given people what they asked? I will
double my subscriptions to the Bible Society and the Philanthropic, and