'I 'm speaking to my grandson, sir,' the squire rejoined, shaking himself like a man rained on. 'I 'm waiting for a plain answer, and no lie. You've already confessed as much as that the money you told me on your honour you put out to interest; psh!--for my grandson was smoke. Now let's hear him.' My father called out: 'I claim a hearing! The money you speak of was put out to the very highest interest. You have your grandson in Parliament, largely acquainted with the principal members of society, husband of an hereditary princess! You have only at this moment to propose for her hand. I guarantee it to you. With that money I have won him everything. Not that I would intimate to you that princesses are purchaseable. The point is, I knew how to employ it.' 'In two months' time, the money in the Funds in the boy's name--you told me that.' 'You had it in the Funds in Harry Richmond's name, sir.' 'Well, sir, I'm asking him whether it's in the Funds now.' 'Oh! Mr. Beltham.' 'What answer's that?' The squire was really confused by my father's interruption, and lost sight of me. 'I ask where it came from: I ask whether it's squandered?' he continued. 'Mr. Beltham, I reply that you have only to ask for it to have it; do so immediately.' 'What 's he saying?' cried the baffled old man. 'I give you a thousand times the equivalent of the money, Mr. Beltham.' 'Is the money there?' 'The lady is here.' 'I said money, sir.' 'A priceless honour and treasure, I say emphatically.' My grandfather's brows and mouth were gathering for storm. Janet touched his knee. 'Where the devil your understanding truckles, if you have any, I don't know,' he muttered. 'What the deuce--lady got to do with money!' 'Oh!' my father laughed lightly, 'customarily the alliance is, they say, as close as matrimony. Pardon me. To speak with becoming seriousness, Mr. Beltham, it was duly imperative that our son should be known in society, should be, you will apprehend me, advanced in station, which I had to do through the ordinary political channel. There could not but be a considerable expenditure for such a purpose.' 'In Balls, and dinners!' 'In everything that builds a young gentleman's repute.' 'You swear to me you gave your Balls and dinners, and the lot, for Harry Richmond's sake?' 'On my veracity, I did, sir!' 'Please don't talk like a mountebank. I don't want any of your roundabout words for truth; we're not writing a Bible essay. I try my best to be civil.' My father beamed on him.