"I always knew you had a strong will, Frederick," said his brother, gently. "I’ve set my heart on it, I tell you. What’s the use of my money to me? D—n it, Jack, I might as well be down in Thames Street again!" "Few people would grumble if they had your good luck," said the elder brother, in his mildest voice. "I don’t care what few people, or what many people, would do. I know that when I make up my mind to a thing, I stick to it; and instead of you sitting quietly by and throwing obstacles in my way, the least you ought to do would be to help me." "You’re very unfair, Fred," said John Hubbard, in an injured tone; "wasn’t I the first to tell you about Miss Brunel? And now——" "And now you try to throw cold water on the whole business. But I am not a child. Miss Brunel’s friends may be very aristocratic and very fine; but they have not all the power in their hands. Look here, Jack, what’s to prevent my marrying Miss Brunel before they know anything about it? And after the marriage is over they may make what disclosures they please; I shall be beforehand with them." "Are you sure that Miss Brunel will marry you, Fred?" said his brother, insidiously. The Count laughed out, in his stormy and contemptuous way: "Your brain has been turned, Jack, by hearing of that one actress who refused a lot of money. Take my word for it, you will never hear of another. If I offer Annie Brunel Balnacluith Place, my house in Bayswater, the place over in Baden, what horses and carriages she pleases, with as much company at home and gadding about abroad as she can wish for, I am not very apprehensive about her answer. When we were younger, Jack, we could have imagined some Joan of Arc declining these things; but now we know better." "It is a strong temptation," said his brother, absently: he did not like to say how very uncertain he considered Annie Brunel’s acceptance of the offer. "And, besides," added the Count, with virtuous warmth, "I do not think I flatter myself when I look upon the money as not the only inducement. I’ll make as good a husband to her as any one I know; and I don’t think my disposition is quarrelsome or niggardly. And besides, Jack, she must remember that it is not every one who would marry an actress, and consent never to look into her past life, which in the case of an actress must have been made up of a good many experiences, you know. Of course I don’t mean to depreciate her. She is doubtless a very honest, and good, and ladylike girl; but still—she mustn’t expect too much."