"Forbid Terry?" she echoed, and then smiled. Decidedly this was her first tone, a soft tone that came from deep in her throat. Instinctively Vance contrasted it with the way she had spoken to him. But it was always this way when Terry was mentioned. For the first time he saw it clearly. It was amazing how blind he had been. "Forbid Terence? Vance, that devil of a horse is part of his life. He was on a hunting trip when he saw Le Sangre--" "Good Lord, did they call the horse that?" "A French-Canadian was the first to discover him, and he gave the name. And he's the color of blood, really. Well, Terence saw Le Sangre on a hilltop against the sky. And he literally went mad. Actually, he struck out on foot with his rifle and lived in the country and never stopped walking until he wore down Le Sangre somehow and brought him back hobbled--just skin and bones, and Terence not much more. Now Le Sangre is himself again, and he and Terence have a fight--like that--every day. I dream about it; the most horrible nightmares!" "And you don't stop it?" "My dear Vance, how little you know Terence! You couldn't tear that horse out of his life without breaking his heart. I _know!_" "So you suffer, day by day?" "I've done very little else all my life," said Elizabeth gravely. "And I've learned to bear pain." He swallowed. Also, he was beginning to grow irritated. He had never before had a talk with Elizabeth that contained so many reefs that threatened shipwreck. He returned to the gist of their conversation rather too bluntly. "But to continue, Elizabeth, any banker would lend me money on my prospects." "You mean the property which will come to you when I die?" He used all his power, but he could not meet her glance. "You know that's a nasty way to put it, Elizabeth." "Dear Vance," she sighed, "a great many people say that I'm a hard woman. I suppose I am. And I like to look facts squarely in the face. Your prospects begin with my death, of course." He had no answer, but bit his lip nervously and wished the ordeal would come to an end. "Vance," she went on, "I'm glad to have this talk with you. It's something you have to know. Of course I'll see that during my life or my death you'll be provided for. But as for your main prospects, do you know where they are?" "Well?" She was needlessly brutal about it, but as she had told him, her education had been one of pain. "Your prospects are down there by the river on the back of Le Sangre." Vance Cornish gasped. "I'll show you what I mean, Vance. Come along."