"That was all?" "He said: 'I have always believed in the immortality of the soul,' that was all; yes, madam." "Thank you," said Susannah. "Thank you." She drew her handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her lips. "They took him home?" she asked. "I was there." She gave him a vacant look. "Ah, yes, you helped them." "My lord died in my arms, madam." She closed her eyes. "And, afterwards?" "We took him to Lyndwood House; a doctor was brought, but----" "He lies there now; I will go to him; we must tell my lady, Mr. Harding, and then we will go to him." "Alas! madam," he answered, "I fear you cannot go to Lyndwood House." "Cannot?" "There are the creditors"--his voice was rough with distress at the sight of her proud, contained anguish. He had not guessed Miss Chressham's affection for her cousin or nothing would have brought him on this errand. "They have seized the house, and his effects." "We are forbidden to see him?" Mr. Harding was startled by her quickness; he bowed his head. "He was most heavily in debt." "What have his debts to do with this?" she asked. Mr. Harding tried to evade her. "My lord leaves his affairs in chaos; this is hardly the moment to speak of them, and to you, madam----" She broke in calmly on his agitation. "I suppose--I think--that he had been raising money on the prospect of a rich marriage, so he would leave nothing, and they could take everything?" "Everything," repeated Mr. Harding. "And we are forbidden the house?" "Madam, I cannot tell." Susannah untied her hat-strings slowly. "There is my lady--her husband died this way, sir--and now I must tell her how my lord came home; and there is Marius." "We have sent to him," replied Mr. Harding quickly. "One left for Holland at once to fetch the Earl." "The Earl?" she repeated. "Marius Lyndwood, madam." Miss Chressham dropped her hat on to a chair. "Ah, yes," she said under her breath, "he had no children!" Then she raised her wide eyes. "Marius is penniless, sir." "Still, he must return; but this talk, madam----" She interrupted. "You would spare me, you are in an unpleasant position. Sir, I thank you. There is no more for you to do. I must tell my lady." "If I can be of any use, madam." "I do not know," answered Susannah faintly. "I am grateful." He thought she would fall as she spoke, and stepped forward. "I shall not faint," she assured him with a piteous smile. "You can leave me now, sir, safely. Will you come later, if I might ask you?" "I beseech you." "You knew him," she continued. "You would do what you could now"--her eyes filled suddenly with tears--"he--he was what they call a worthless man, sir, no one was the better for his life; but for his death there are those who are sorry." Mr. Harding could not bear to look at her. "I am absolutely at your service, madam."