Fairfax laughed again. With a touch of bitterness he said-- "And I must have an income of five times as much as that a year--ten times as much as that a year--unless I wish to feel degraded because I am a poor labourer." The comtesse did not reply to this. As she did not, Fairfax saw the humour of it. "You do not really think I could give you five thousand francs, auntie?" "I know you haven't a great deal of money, dear boy----" "Not a great deal, auntie." "But you seem to have such a lot of time to spend to amuse yourself." He nodded. "So I seem to have." The comtesse looked at him a little askance. "You are going to make such a brilliant marriage. Mrs. Faversham is so fearfully rich." Fairfax exclaimed, but shut down on the words that came to his lips. He realized that his aunt was a toy woman, utterly irresponsible, a pretty fool. He said simply-- "You had better frankly tell your husband." She swung her parasol to and fro. "You think so, Tony?" "Decidedly." "And you couldn't possibly manage, Tony?" Tony pointed to his studies. "These are my only assets; these are my finances, auntie. I shall have to sell something to live on--if I am so lucky as to be able to find a customer." "If I could give the dealer a thousand francs to-morrow I think he would wait," said his aunt. Tony shook his head. "I wish I were a millionaire for five minutes, Aunt Caroline." His aunt rose and smoothed her glove. "I shall have to pawn my watch and necklace," she said tranquilly. "Bella is fearfully rich," she drawled, nodding at him, "and she is of age. Her father will settle a million on her when she marries." A pang went through Fairfax's heart. Another heiress! "They say she is awfully pretty and awfully sought after." Antony murmured, "Yes, yes, of course," and took a few paces up and down the room. "Do you know," said his aunt, who had slowly walked over to the door and stood with her hand on the knob, "I used to think you were a little in love with Bella. She was such a funny, old-fashioned child, so grown up." Fairfax exclaimed fiercely, "Aunt Caroline, I don't like to re-live the past!" "I don't wonder," she murmured quietly; "and you are going to make such a brilliant marriage." He saw her go with relief. She was terrible to him--like a vampire in her silks and jewels. Would she ruin her innocent, kindly husband? What would she do if she could not raise the money? He believed her capable of anything.