"No; I can't," said Mrs Fortescue bluntly. "I have often and often tried to find out, but have never succeeded. My idea, however, is-- seeing that the girls have been spared no expense whatever since the death of their parents, and knowing that their parents, during their lifetime, were very well off--that they will both be rich. I know that Mr Timmins has spent hundreds a year on their education, and as to the amount he has devoted to their dress, it has really amazed me, although it has been no affair of mine. Florence now possesses a set of sealskin which would delight any duchess in the land, and there was a little talk last year of giving her a similar set of chinchilla. She looks better in furs than her sister, who requires altogether a simpler style of dress. The girls travelled up to town first-class to-day and were met by Mr Timmins' man--his confidential clerk: that I happen to know; but I have not the slightest idea whether Florence Heathcote's fortune represents a pound a year, or two or three thousand." "Two or three thousand!" murmured the Major. A greedy look came into his old eyes. He suddenly rose to his feet. "I am very much obliged," he said. "You have frankly told me all you know." "Most frankly; most unreservedly. You will regard our conversation as confidential?" "Certainly: it would not be fair to mention it to anybody else until the week for which Florence has stipulated expires," said the old man. "But now; let me assure you, that were the dear girl blessed with nothing at all in the way of money she would be equally precious both to my son and to me." "Oh, you old hypocrite!" murmured Mrs Fortescue under her breath, but she did not say the words aloud: people don't in polite society. The Major took his leave. "Your champagne was excellent," he said, as the widow saw him to the door. "You must let me know some day where you get it, and, of course, when the week is up and everything is comfortably arranged, you and Brenda and Florence will give us the pleasure of dining with us at the Moat." "Thank you so much, Major," said Mrs Fortescue. The Major walked down the street, murmuring to himself-- "Two or three thousand a year! It is true--it must be true. She has practically admitted it." He met his son, who was, in fact, waiting for him. "Come for a walk, Mike," said the old man. "Give me your arm, my boy. I have been busy over your affairs during the morning, and the fact is, that woman's sweet champagne has got into my head. I can't imagine how it is that women never know the difference between dry champagne and sweet. I shall have a bilious attack after this, as sure as fate." "Where in the world have you been, dad?" said the lieutenant, looking with apprehension at his father's flushed face. "Why, my boy," said the Major, "I have been eating the most abominable lunch I ever tasted in the whole course of my life at Mrs Fortescue's."