"Troubles abound," said the tremulous old lady. "You have drawn the sting of yours and kept only the honey," which saying astonished Charles greatly. He had no idea his mother could say things like that. She had had time to think plenty of them, indeed, but there had never been room for more than one shining light in the household and that had cast strong shadows. Charles had gone quietly away smiling to himself, and had been in cheerful spirits for the rest of the day. The first night, when the ladies had gone chattering upstairs to make sure that all the arrangements were in order, Graeme and Pixley sat out on the verandah smoking a final pipe. The ladies' voices floated through the open windows as they passed from room to room, and Graeme laughed softly. "What's up?" asked Pixley, gazing at him soberly. "I was thinking of the changes here since the first night I slept in this house all by myself, and heard ghosts creeping about and all kinds of noises." "Much jollier to hear _them_," said Charles, as Miss Penny's and Margaret's laughter came floating down the softness of the night. "Ay, indeed! Very much jollier," and they smoked and listened. No word had so far passed between them as to the troubles that lay behind. There had, indeed, been no opportunity until now, and Graeme had no mind to broach the matter. But Pixley had only been waiting till they could discuss things alone, and the time had come. "It will take them months to get to the bottom of things over there," he said quietly. "I saw the accountants, and they say everything's in a dreadful mess. He must have been involved for years. It makes me absolutely sick to think of it all, Graeme, and him--" "I'm sure it must, old chap. Why think of it? It's done, and it can't be undone, and everyone knows you had nothing to do with it." "I know. Everyone is very kind, but I can't get rid of it. It's with me all the time like a dirty shadow." "We'll chase it away. No place like Sark for getting rid of bogeys and worries." "How things will come out it's impossible to say. I made special enquiries into Margaret's affairs, and it's quite certain he's tampered with her money, but they could not say yet to what extent. On the other hand, certain of her securities are intact, so everything is not gone. But what I wanted to say was this. I am determined that Margaret shall not suffer, whatever may have happened. Any deficiency I shall make good myself." "My dear fellow, she would never hear of it." "That's why I'm talking to you." "Well, I won't hear of it either. As I told you before, it was a trouble to me when I heard she had any money. Whatever she had I settled on herself, and we can get on very well without it." "All the same I'm not going to have her lose anything through my--through him. Neither you nor she can stop me doing what I like with my own money." "We can refuse to touch it." "That would be nonsense."