"No, no, indeed," the Countess said nervously. "I am not strong enough for any fatigue or excitement. But if he pays up, I hope I shall get some of my money back." "You must not forget," said Guy in his cool, level tone, "that from time to time you have borrowed considerable sums of money from him. There must be justice on both sides. It remains to be seen, when both sides have discharged their debts, who will be the richer. I do not think, ma mére, it will be us. If I discharge the mortgage, it will take every bit of ready money I possess. His debts will alone enable me to do it at all. I fear nothing will be over for you, or for the estate, so do not build on false hopes." Blank dismay took the place of eager expectancy in the Countess's face. "Do you mean to say that I shall not get that diamond watch back?" she asked after a moment's thought. Guy smiled. "That item was mentioned to him. I had clear proof that he cheated you over that. We shall get it back, I hope. Now shall we postpone further talk, and have some food, and will you let Monsieur Grougan dine with us, for we still have a lot of business to transact before he leaves?" "Oh, certainly, let him stay, though I hardly feel inclined for food after all the shocks of to-day." Yet with her usual inconsistency, the Countess brightened up and made herself quite agreeable to the lawyer. Adrienne did not talk much. Somehow her thoughts were on the small boy. What would become of him? Who would look after him? She could not picture her cousin in the role of a father to a child who was hardly out of the nursery. She and her aunt discussed the situation again when dinner was over, and the two men had retired to the library; and Adrienne tried to impress her aunt with the reasonableness and generosity of her stepson's plans. "The Château does want a master, Aunt Cecily. You have told me over and over again that it did. You will have all the joy of it without the anxiety. Aren't you thankful beyond words that the Bouveries are not going to walk in and take possession next Tuesday? I suppose I ought not to be ill-natured, but I should like to know how Madame Bouverie is feeling this evening after all her boastful bragging and impertinence!" "Yes, yes, I quite agree with you about her; but I cannot help feeling hurt about this child being so suddenly sprung upon us. I only hope he is genuine, and that the marriage was so, too." "Oh, Aunt Cecily, how can you doubt Cousin Guy's word? He's the soul of honour." "I dare say he may be, but it's a strange coincidence that, directly the boy appears, Guy should buy up the Château and turn me out." "That's very unfair, Aunt Cecily." Adrienne flared up quite angrily. "He has always meant to save the Château at the last moment. He told me so—but he waited, as he said, till Monsieur Bouverie had a long enough rope to hang himself! And I think he is quite right to think of his son, and to wish to give him a home."