He had not seen Luce that morning, for he had been out, inquiring at the lodge at six, and had gone straight on to Anglebridge, where he had breakfasted. In his heart he had been glad of the excuse for his absence, for the few hours of reprieve. But he would have to see her now, would have to ask her to be his wife--while his heart ached with love for Nell! As he drove up to the door, one of the Angleford carriages came round from the stables. He glanced at it absently, and entered the hall slowly, draggingly, and was amazed to find Lord Turfleigh, in overcoat and hat, standing beside a pile of luggage. "By George! just in time, Drake!" he exclaimed, his thick voice quavering with suppressed excitement, his hands shaking as he tugged at his gloves. "Just had bad news--deuced bad news!" But though he described the intelligence as bad, there was a note of satisfaction in his voice. "I'm sorry. What is it?" asked Drake. "Buckleigh--Buckleigh and his boy gone down in that infernal yacht of his!" said Lord Turfleigh hoarsely. He turned aside as he spoke to take a brandy and soda which the footman had brought. The Marquis of Buckleigh was Lord Turfleigh's elder brother, and, if the news were true, Lord Turfleigh was now the marquis, and a rich man. Drake understand the note of satisfaction in the whisky-shaken voice. "Just time to catch the train!" said the new marquis. "Where the devil is Luce? I always said Buckleigh would drown himself----Where is Luce? She thinks I'll go without her; but I won't!" He swore. At that moment Lady Luce came down the stairs. She was coming down slowly, reluctantly, her fair face set sullenly; but at sight of Drake her expression changed, and she ran down to him. There might yet be time for the one word. "Drake!" she cried, in a low voice, "I am going----You have heard?" "Yes, yes," her father broke in testily. "I've told him. Get in. It will be a near thing as it is. Come on, I tell you!" and he shambled down the steps to the carriage. She held Drake's hand and looked into his eyes appealingly. "You see! I must go!" she murmured. He nodded gravely. "But you will come back?" he said, as gravely. "Come back as soon as you can." Her face lit up, and she breathed softly. She was now the daughter of a rich man, but she wanted Drake, none the less. "The Fates are against me, Drake," she whispered; "but I will come back." "Where the devil is that confounded maid of yours, Luce?" Turfleigh called to her. Burden came down the stairs. Her veil was drawn over the upper part of her face, but the lower part was white to the lips. "I'm half inclined to leave her behind," said Lady Luce irritably. "Pray be quick, Burden!" Burden got up on the box seat without a word. Drake put Lady Luce in, held her hand for a moment, then the carriage started, and he was standing alone, staring after it half stupidly. He was still free! CHAPTER XXXV.