"Sir Leslie was down at Bristow, where I was staying--this last week-end," she explained. "I lost a good deal of money there at roulette. He very kindly took up my I.O.U.'s for me, and was offering when you came in to let it stand for a little time." "What is the amount?" Mannering asked. Clara did not answer. Her head sank again. Her uncle repeated his inquiry. There was no note of anger in his tone. He might have been speaking of an altogether indifferent matter. "I am afraid I shall have to trouble you to tell me the exact amount," he said. "Perhaps, Borrowdean, you would be so good as to inform me, as my niece seems a little overcome." "The amount of the I.O.U.'s for which I gave my cheque," Borrowdean said, "was five hundred and eighty-seven pounds. I have the papers here." There was a dead silence for a moment or two. Clara looked up furtively, but she could learn nothing from her uncle's face. It was some time before he spoke. When at last he did, his voice was certainly a little lower and less distinct than usual. "Did I understand you to say--five hundred and eighty-seven pounds?" "That is the amount," Borrowdean admitted. "I trust that you do not consider my interference in any way officious, Mannering. I thought it best to settle the claims of perfect strangers against Miss Mannering." "May I ask," Mannering continued, "in whose house my niece was permitted to lose this sum?" "It was at the Bristows'," Clara answered. "And under whose chaperonage were you?" Mannering asked. "Lady Bristow's! She called for me here, and took me down last Friday." "Are these people who are generally accounted respectable?" Mannering asked. "I don't think that Bristow is much better or worse than half of our country houses," Borrowdean answered. "People who are at all in the swim must have excitement nowadays, you know. Bristow himself isn't very popular, but people go to the house." Mannering made no further remark. "If you will come into the study, Borrowdean," he said, "I will settle this matter with you." Borrowdean hesitated. "Your niece said something about having three hundred pounds," he remarked. Mannering glanced towards her. "I think," he said, "that that must be a mistake. My niece has no such sum at her command." Clara rose to her feet. "You may as well know everything," she said. "The Duchess of Lenchester came in and found me very unhappy this morning. I told her everything, and she offered to lend me the money. I told her then that it was only three hundred pounds. I thought that was all I owed." "Have you made any other confidants?" Mannering asked. "No!" "You will return the Duchess's cheque," Mannering said. "Borrowdean, will you come this way?" CHAPTER V LOVE _versus_ POLITICS