"I shall have when he gets that check," Jack returned grimly. "If father hadn't put all our money into the hands of trustees--" "We should neither of us have anything whatever," his mother interrupted, laughing. "It is bad enough as it is, but it would have been worse if we'd had our hands free." Her spirits were evidently once more high; she seemed to have cast off fear and care alike. "Well," she said, rising, "I must go home. You want to go and find the Count, of course." She went up to her son, and put her hands on his shoulders. "Dear boy," she said, "I'm not really so bad as I seem. I was a fool to gamble, but I never did anything else that was very bad. Oh, you don't know what a weight it is off my shoulders to have that note paid. Of course it will be hard on you just now, but we must hurry on the marriage with May, and then you'll have money enough." He smiled down on her with a look in which despite its scrutiny there was a good deal of fondness. Worldly as the Neligages were, there was still a strong bond of affection between them. "All right, old lady," he said, stooping forward to kiss her forehead. "I'm awfully sorry you've had such a hard time, but you're out of it now. Only there's one thing I insist on. You are to tell nobody of the engagement till I give you leave." She studied his face keenly. "If I don't announce it," she said frankly, "I'm afraid you'll squirm out of it." He laughed buoyantly. "You are a born diplomat," he told her. "What sort of a concession do you want to make you hold your tongue?" "Jack," she said pleadingly, changing her voice into earnestness, "won't you marry May? If you only knew how I want you to be rich and taken care of." "Mr. Frostwinch has offered me a place in the bank, mater, with a salary that's about as much as I've paid for the board of one of my ponies." "What could you do on a salary like that? You won't break the engagement when you see May this afternoon, will you? Promise me that." "She may break it herself." "She won't unless you make her. Promise me, Jack." He smiled down into her face as if a sudden thought had come to him, and a gleam of mischief lighted his brown eyes. "The engagement, such as it is," he returned, "may stand at present as you've fixed it, if you'll give me your word not to mention it or to meddle with it." "I promise," she said rapturously, and pulled him down to kiss him fervently before departing. Then in the conscious virtue of having achieved great things Mrs. Neligage betook herself home to dress for a luncheon. XVII THE BUSINESS OF A LOVER Jack's first care, after his mother had left him, was to dispatch a messenger to May with his note. Then he set out in search of Dr. Wilson. After a little hunting he discovered the latter lunching at the club. Jack came straight to his business without any beating about the bush. "Wilson," he said, "I've come on an extraordinary errand. I want you to lend me $6000 on the spot."