"Well, I'm not so young as I was; and I might get chucked off my horse, or--or something of that sort; and then you'd be in a hole, I imagine; for I suppose you've got through most of your mother's money?" "A great deal of it," admitted Drake. "Yes; I thought so. Well, look here; I'll tell you what I'll do, Drake. As you may know, Lady Angleford has a fortune of her own. Her father was a millionaire. That leaves me free to do what I like with my own money. Now, I'll settle ten thousand a year on you, Drake--but on one condition." Drake was considerably startled. After all, ten thousand a year is a large sum; and though the earl was immensely rich, Drake had not expected him to be so liberal. On ten thousand a year one can manage very comfortably, even in England. Drake thought of his debts, of all that a settled income would mean to him, and his heart warmed with gratitude toward his uncle. "You are more than kind, sir," he said. "Your liberality takes my breath away. What was the condition?" The earl fidgeted a little in his chair. "Look here, Drake," he said, "I've never worried you about your way of life; I know that young men will be young men, and that you've lived in a pretty fast set. That was your business and not mine, and as long as you kept afloat I didn't choose to interfere. But I think it's time you settled down; and I'll settle this money on you on condition that you do settle down. You're engaged to a very nice girl--just you marry and settle down, and I'll provide the means, as I say." Drake looked straight before him. Had this offer been made a month before he would have accepted it without a moment's hesitation, for he had thought himself in love with Luce, and, more important, he had thought that she had cared for him. But now all was changed. He knew that if a hundred thousand a year were dependent upon marrying Luce he couldn't accept it. The earl stared at him, and filled another glass with the port, which was a poison to him. "Eh? What the devil do you mean? I say that if you'll settle down and marry Luce I will provide a suitable income for you. What the blazes are you hesitating about? Why--confound it!--aren't you satisfied? You don't want to be told that I'm not bound to give you a penny!" The old man's handsome face was growing red, and his eyes were beginning to glitter; the port was doing its fell work. "I know," said Drake, with a quietude which only made his uncle more angry, "and I'm very much obliged to you. I know what ten thousand a year means; but I'm afraid I can't fulfill the conditions." "What the devil do you mean?" demanded the earl. Drake smoked in silence for a moment or two. Most men would have said at once that Lady Lucille Turfleigh had, on his change of prospects, jilted him; but Drake had some old-world notions of honor in respect to women, and he could not give Lady Luce away. "I'm afraid I can't marry Luce," he said. "Our engagement is broken off."