“No one who knows you will doubt that,” said Lawrence so blandly that Hooper could find no fault, could not understand why he was irritated. “And now that we’re on common ground I hope you’ll give me some--aw--data--so that I may draw up the necessary papers.” “Has Frothingham any debts?” asked Hooper abruptly, after a thoughtful pause. “There are about fifteen thousand pounds of personal obligations,” replied Lawrence carelessly, “and a matter of perhaps a hundred thousand pounds as a charge on the entailed estate. I understand the entailed part is all that’s left; but the estates can be, should be, restored to what they were until a hundred or a hundred and fifty years ago.” “Um!” muttered Hooper. “The debt represents, I believe,” continued Lawrence, “the wild oats and careless management of previous generations. The present Earl has been--remarkably steady, they tell me, considering his station and opportunities, and the example of his father and grandfather.” Hooper had read with an attention that made his memory leechlike every word of every sketch of Frothingham and the Gordon-Beauvais family in the Chicago papers. Lawrence’s aristocratic allusions were, therefore, full of suggestion and moved him profoundly. “Well,” said he, “I should say, in round numbers, that a million would straighten the young man out and set them housekeeping in good style.” There was a queer gleam in Lawrence’s eyes as he replied: “Very handsome, Mr. Hooper. Most satisfactory. Your daughter can take the position in England to which the Earl’s rank entitles her.” He looked as if he were reflecting; then, as if thinking aloud: “Let me see--a million pounds--five million----” Hooper sprang to his feet. “You misunderstood me, Mr. Lawrence,” he protested angrily, but nervously. “My daughter will have that--perhaps more than that--ultimately. But I meant dollars, not pounds.” Lawrence put on a expression of amazement. “I beg your pardon, Mr. Hooper, but really--_really_--you can’t mean that. Two hundred thousand pounds would barely fetch them even. They’d have nothing to live on.” “Oh, of course I don’t mean that I’d not give ’em anything in addition. We were talking only of settlements.” “Certainly. And you must see, Mr. Hooper, that it would be impossible for us to accept any settlement so inadequate. Some misfortune might overtake you and--you would be unable to carry out your present generous intentions.” “A million dollars is a big sum of money. It looks even bigger in England than here.” “But you are making a great alliance. A million dollars is a small sum in the circumstances--I mean, in view of the necessity of enabling your daughter to take all that her position as Countess of Frothingham entitles her to.”