“I understand the essential thing,” said I. “And that is their mania for money.” She was on the verge of hysteria--afraid I would not go, afraid of what I would do if I did go. “But they have to be handled carefully,” she urged. “If you put them in a position where their pride won’t let them take the--the money----” “Trust me,” said I. “Go to bed, sleep soundly, and trust me.” I stood. She suddenly flung herself against my breast and began to sob on my shoulder. “You are hard and cold,” she said. “You have no sympathy with me--no feeling for anything but business. But somehow--in spite of it all--I have such a sense of your strength and your honesty.” I laughed rather awkwardly, patted her shoulder, helped her to a chair. “There are times when a coarse, common American business man of a husband has his uses--and advantages,” I said lightly. “I’ll telegraph you how things are going.” She dried her eyes, looked at me in a puzzled way. “You always repulse me,” she said. “I appreciate your kindness in remembering to toss a few crumbs to the starving man,” laughed I. “They are precious crumbs, no doubt, and more than he deserves. But--please don’t do it. He hates that sort of thing. You are free to act as you feel like acting. I’ll do as much for you and Margot without the crumbs as with them.” “How hard you are, Godfrey! How you have always misunderstood me!” “That’s right,” said I amiably. “I’m too coarse for such a fine nature. Well--good night.” I took myself hastily away to bed; and at ten the next morning I departed for London. I decided to see Margot first. She was at Sothewell Abbey, about an hour by express from Paddington. You perhaps know Sothewell Abbey through the pictures and descriptions. And it is indeed an imposing pile of old masonry seated in the midst of a park of surpassing beauty. As soon as I entered the ancient gates for the two-mile drive to the Abbey, I saw signs that my money was in action. When I first visited it, the lodge was in sad disrepair, the gates were about to fall to pieces and the vista of the drive was unkempt. Now, all was changed. The servile pair who came out to open for me, and made me fear they would drop down on their bellies and crawl before me, were neatly and properly dressed, in strong contrast to their former appearance.