"Perhaps you have legal connections of your own here," he ventured. "To tell you the truth, I have been obliged to speak my mind in a very plain manner to my own solicitors. I consider that they mismanaged the Vont case most shamefully. I would really prefer to keep away from them for a time." David nodded. "I have a letter to some lawyers, at my rooms," he said. "I will send you their address, and we can make an appointment to meet at their office." The Marquis assented gravely. He considered that the matter was now better dismissed from further discussion. "I have no doubt," he said, "that my sister would like to talk to you for a time. Shall we join the ladies?" David threw away his cigar and professed his readiness. They crossed the hall and entered the drawing-room. There was one table of bridge, and Letitia was seated with her sister on a divan near the window. The former sighed as she watched the entrance of the two men. "Do look at father, Meg," she whispered. "I am perfectly certain he has been borrowing money." Margaret shrugged her shoulders. "What if he has, my dear!" she rejoined. "These people can afford to pay for their entertainment. I think it's rather clever of him." Letitia groaned. "You have such ignoble ideas, Meg," she said reprovingly. "Now I know I shall have to make myself agreeable to Mr. Thain, and I either like him or dislike him immensely. I haven't the least idea which." "I shouldn't be surprised," her sister whispered, as Thain approached, "if he didn't help you presently to make up your mind." CHAPTER VII Marcia Hannaway called upon her publisher during the course of the following day. She found the ready entrée of a privileged client--with scarcely a moment's delay she was ushered into the presence of James Borden, the person who for some years now had occupied the second place in her thoughts and life. "Anything happened, Marcia?" he enquired, after their quiet but familiar greeting. "You look as though you were bringing Fate with you." She made herself comfortable in the easy-chair which he had drawn up to the fire. Outside, an unexpectedly cold wind made the sense of warmth doubly pleasant. She unfastened her simple furs and smiled at him a little dolefully. "Just this," she replied, handing him a letter. He spread it out, adjusted his eyeglasses and read it deliberately: 94, GROSVENOR SQUARE, Thursday. _My dear Marcia:_ I have made enquiries with reference to the non-payment of your allowance for the last two quarters, and now enclose cheque for the amount, drawn by my agent in Norfolk and payable to yourself. I think I can promise you that no further irregularities shall occur. I look forward to seeing you to-morrow afternoon, and I must tell you of a financial operation I am now conducting, which, if successful, may enable me to pay off the mortgages which render the Norfolk estates so unremunerative.