"A thousand pounds, for the labours of a whole life! And what assurance shall I have of that? I don't suppose he has ever dreamed of putting it into his will. And if he has, what will a thousand pounds do for me? You can go to Slocombe Abbey. But the rectory, which was as good as promised, will be closed against me." The Marchioness knew that this was a falsehood, but did not dare to tell him so. The living had been talked about between them till it was assumed that he had a right to it. "If the young man were out of the way," he continued, "there would be some chance for me." "I cannot put him out of the way," said the Marchioness. "And some chance for Lord Frederic and his brothers." "You need not tell me of that, Mr. Greenwood." "But one has to look the truth in the face. It is for your sake that I have been anxious,--rather than my own. You must own that." She would not own anything of the kind. "I suppose there was no doubt about the first marriage?" "None at all," said the Marchioness, terrified. "Though it was thought very odd at the time. It ought to be looked to, I think. No stone ought to be left unturned." "There is nothing to be hoped for in that direction, Mr. Greenwood." "It ought to be looked to;--that's all. Only think what it will be if he marries, and has a son before anything is--is settled." To this Lady Kingsbury made no answer; and after a pause Mr. Greenwood turned to his own grievances. "I shall make bold," he said, "to see the Marquis once again before Lord Hampstead comes down. He cannot but acknowledge that I have a great right to be anxious. I do not suppose that any promise would be sacred in his son's eyes, but I must do the best I can." To this her ladyship would make no answer, and they parted, not in the best humour with each other. That was on the Monday. On the Tuesday Mr. Greenwood, having asked to be allowed an interview, crept slowly into the sick man's room. "I hope your lordship find yourself better this morning?" The sick man turned in his bed, and only made some feeble grunt in reply. "I hear that Lord Hampstead is coming down to-morrow, my lord." "Why should he not come?" There must have been something in the tone of Mr. Greenwood's voice which had grated against the sick man's ears, or he would not have answered so sulkily. "Oh, no, my lord. I did not mean to say that there was any reason why his lordship should not come. Perhaps it might have been better had he come earlier." "It wouldn't have been at all better." "I only just meant to make the remark, my lord; there was nothing in it." "Nothing at all," said the sick man. "Was there anything else you wished to say, Mr. Greenwood?" The nurse all this time was sitting in the room, which the chaplain felt to be uncomfortable. "Could we be alone for a few minutes, my lord?" he asked. "I don't think we could," said the sick man. "There are a few points which are of so much importance to me, Lord Kingsbury."