"Oh, the squire!" exclaimed Fluff, jumping up in her seat, and clasping her hands with vexation. "Who cares for the squire? Is he to have everything. Is nobody to be thought of but him? Why should Frances make all her days wretched on his account? Why should Frances give up the man she is so fond of, just to give him a little more comfort and luxuries that he doesn't want? Look here, Mr. Spens, it is wrong--it must not be! I won't have it!" Mr. Spens could not help smiling. "You are very eager and emphatic," he said. "I should like to know how you are going to prevent Miss Kane taking her own way." "It is not her own way; it is the squire's way." "Well, it comes to the same thing. How are you to prevent her taking the squire's way?" "Oh, you leave that to me! I have an idea. I think I can work it through. Only I want you, Mr. Spens, to tell me the real reason why Frances is going away from the Firs, and why she has to live at Arden. She will explain nothing; she only says it is necessary. She won't give any reason either to Philip or me." "Don't you think, Miss Danvers, I ought to respect her confidence? If she wished you to know, she would tell you herself." "Oh, please--please tell me! Do tell me! I won't do any mischief, I promise you. Oh, if only you knew how important it is that I should find out!" The lawyer considered for a moment. Fluff's pretty words and beseeching gestures were having an effect upon him. After all, if there was any chance of benefiting Miss Kane, why should the squire's miserable secret be concealed? After a time he said: "You look like a child, but I believe you have sense. I suppose whatever I tell you, you intend to repeat straight-way to Mr. Arnold?" "Well, yes; I certainly mean to tell him." "Will you promise to tell no one but Arnold?" "Yes, I can promise that." "Then the facts are simple enough. The squire owes six thousand pounds to a client of mine in London. My client wants to sell the Firs in order to recover his money. The squire says if he leaves the Firs he must die. Miss Kane comes forward and offers to go as companion to Mrs. Carnegie, Mrs. Carnegie paying her three hundred pounds a year, which sum she hands over to my client as interest at five per cent. on the six thousand pounds. These are the facts of the case in a nutshell, Miss Danvers. Do you understand them?" "I think I do. I am very much obliged to you. What is the name of your client?" "You must excuse me, young lady--I can not divulge my client's name." "But if Philip wanted to know very badly, you would tell him?" "That depends on the reason he gave for requiring the information." "I think it is all right, then," said Fluff, rising to her feet. "Good-bye, I am greatly obliged to you. Oh, that dear Frances. Mr. Spens, I think I hate the squire." CHAPTER XV. "MR. LOVER."