"Odd things happen in life. When my father died, I went to Fenlew Hall with my mother to live. Grandfather's heart had softened a little, you see. I was Lord Eric Temple before I was six years old. My mother died when I was ten. For fifteen years I lived on with Lord Fenlew, and, while we rowed a good deal,--he is a crotchety old tyrant, bless him!--he undoubtedly preferred me to either of my cousins. God bless him for that! He showed his good sense, if I do say it who shouldn't. "So they set to work. That's why I am here,--without going into details. That's why I am out of the Army. And I loved the Army, Jane,--God bless it! I used to pray for another war, horrible as it may sound, so that I could go out and fight for England as those lads did who went down to the bottom of Africa. I would cry myself to sleep because I was so young then, and so useless. I am not ashamed of the tears you see in my eyes now. You can't understand what it means to me, Jane." He drew a deep breath, cleared his throat, and then went on. "Lord Fenlew turned me out,--disowned me. Don't blame the old boy. They made out a good enough case against me. I was given the choice of resigning from the regiment or--well, the other thing. My father was practically penniless when he died. I had nothing of my own. It was up to me to earn an honest living,--or go to the devil. I thought I'd try out the former first. One can always go to the devil, you know. So off into the far places of the earth I wandered,--and I've steered pretty clear of the devil up to date. "It's easy to earn a living, dear, if you just half try. "And now for this new complication. For the three years that I have been away from England, not a single word have I sent home. I daresay they know that I am alive, and that I'll turn up some day like the bad penny. I was named in my grandfather's will. He once told me he intended to leave the bulk of the unentailed property to me,--not because he loved me well but because he loved my two cousins not at all. For all I know, he may never have altered his will. In that case, I still remain the chief legatee and a source of tremendous uneasiness to my precious aunts and their blackguard sons. It is possible, even probable, that they have decided the safest place to have me is behind the bars,--at least until Lord Fenlew has changed his will for the last time and lies securely in the family vault. I can think of no other explanation for the action of Scotland Yard. But, don't worry, dear. I haven't done anything wrong, and they can't stow me away in--" "The beasts!" cried Jane, furiously. He stroked her clenched fingers. "I wouldn't call 'em names, dear," he protested. "They're honest fellows, and simply doing--" "They are the most despicable wretches on earth." "You must be referring to my cousins. I thought--"