“Of course, I am affected by the times; had they remained what they were, even what they were towards the end of the seventies, I should be making now something over ten thousand pounds a year. But, thank God! I have not to complain. Next year I hope to invest another five thousand pounds. The worst of it is, that there is no price for money in legitimate securities.” “Everything is very bad; you never will invest your money as I did mine ten years ago. My business is not, of course, what it used to be, but I don't complain; if it weren't for troubles nearer home I should get on very well.” “I hope that Sally has commenced no new flirtation in the Southdown Road. I thought she had promised you--since she gave up Meason--that she would for the future know no one that lived there.” “I was thinking for the moment of Willy, not of Sally; she has not been so troublesome lately. But no sooner are we out of one trouble than we are in another. It is, of course, very regrettable that young Escott should have stabbed himself, and in my garden too. I, who hate scandals, seem always plunged in one. I hear they are talking of it in the clubs in Brighton. I hope Lord Mount Rorke will not hear of it; if he did, do you think it would prejudice him against the match?” “Then you're prepared to give your consent?” “Why not? Surely! I really don't see--Lord Mount Rorke is a very rich man.” “Possibly, but Irish peers are not always as rich as they would like us to believe they are. The connection is, of course, desirable, but I hope your anxiety to secure it will not lead you into making foolish, I will say reprehensible, monetary concessions. What I mean is this. I am a straightforward man, Mr. Brookes, brought up in a hard school, and I always come straight to the point. You are a rich man, Mr. Brookes--you have the reputation of being a richer man than you are--and it is possible, I don't say it is probable, that Lord Mount Rorke will expect you to make a large settlement. He will possibly--mind you, I do not say probably--taking the coronet into consideration--those people think as much of their titles as we do of our money--ask you to settle a thousand a year, may be fifteen hundred a year, upon your daughter.” “Settle a thousand--maybe fifteen hundred--a year on my daughter!” cried the horror-stricken Brookes. “He may even ask for two thousand a year. Remember, you are a distiller--he is a peer of the realm. And now I say,” continued Berkins, growing more emphatic as he reached the close of his declamation, “that in my wife's interest I will oppose any and all attempts to purchase a coronet for Maggie at her sister's expense.”