Ogilvie had a quick sensation of momentary relief. His wife owed another two thousand pounds. It would be bankruptcy, ruin if he did not go. He stood up. "The time for discussing the thing is over," he said. "I will go--and--do _as you wish_. The only thing to put straight is the price down." "What do you mean by the price down?" "I want money." "Of course, you shall have it." "I want more than my expenses, and something to cover the loss to my business which my absence may create." "How much more?" Lord Grayleigh looked at him anxiously. "Ten thousand pounds in cash now, to be placed to my credit in my bank." "Ten thousand pounds in cash! That is a big order." "Not too big for what you require me to do. You make hundreds of thousands by me eventually; what is one ten thousand? It will relieve my mind and set a certain matter straight. The fact is--I will confide in you so far--my own pecuniary affairs are anything but flourishing. I have had some calls to meet. What little property I own is settled on my wife. You know that a man cannot interfere with his marriage settlements. I have one child. I want to make a special provision for her." "I know your child," said Lord Grayleigh, in a very grave tone; "she is out of the common." A spasm of pain crossed the father's face. "She is," he answered slowly. "I wish to make a provision for her. If I die (I may die, we are all mortal; I am going to a distant place; possibilities in favor of death are ten per cent. greater than if I remain at home)--if I die, this will be hers. It will comfort me, and make it absolutely impossible for me to go back. You understand that sometimes a miserable starved voice within me speaks. I allude to the voice of conscience. However much it clamors, I cannot listen to it when that sum of money lies in the bank to my credit, with my last will and testament leaving it eventually to my daughter." "I would not give your daughter such a portion, if I were you," thought Lord Grayleigh, but he did not say the words aloud. He said instead, "What you wish shall be done." The two men talked a little longer together. Certain necessary arrangements were concluded, and Ogilvie bore in his pocket before he left a check for ten thousand pounds on Lord Grayleigh's private account. "This clinches matters," he said, and he gave a significant glance at Grayleigh. "You will see Spielmann for all the rest," was Grayleigh's answer; "and now, if you must catch the train----" "Yes, I must; good-by." Lord Grayleigh walked with him as far as the porch. "Have you seen your wife?" he asked. "Can we not induce you to wait for the next train and stay to lunch?" "No, thanks; it is impossible. Oh, I see you have sent for the dog-cart; I will drive to the station."