"I wish to God you were!" said Derrick, huskily, and feeling, with amazement, and an Englishman's annoyance, that his own eyes were moist. "Let us pretend that we are--mother and son," she said, in so low a voice as to be almost inaudible. "Therefore, as a son, you need conceal nothing from me. Tell me, who is this man whose name escaped you?" As she asked the question, she made an evident effort to control her agitation, and her voice and manner were well-nigh calm, and infinitely tender and persuasive. "Oh, Heyton!" said Derrick, feeling that he would be quite safe to tell her everything. "He is the eldest, the only, son of the Marquess of Sutcombe; and, of course, he will be the next Marquess; and, of course, that's the reason why Miriam--Miriam Ainsley--chucked me and married him." "This Lord Heyton, what manner of man is he?" she said. "Oh, I'm afraid he's a bad lot; you'll see that, or he wouldn't have played this low down trick on me. He's a weak sort of fellow who has played the fool pretty thoroughly. I met him at the place where the Ainsleys lived, a little village called Bridgeford; and though--it's easy to be wise after the event--I didn't like him much, we got to be kind of friends. He's full of low cunning and I'd no idea he was after Miriam until it was too late. You see the sort of man he is." "And he will be the Marquess," she said, musingly. "Oh, yes, nothing can prevent that," assented Derrick, with a short laugh. "It is a pity," she said. "A thousand pities," agreed Derrick; "but there you are! It's our system of primogeniture, eldest son, you know." "If you go to England, you will keep out of his way," she said. "Rather!" said Derrick, grimly. "If I go to England--and, of course, I shall if you wish it--I shall keep out of everybody's way. I shall use my assumed name, Sydney Green." "It will be well to do so," she said, gravely. It was evident that she was considering the matter with all a woman's acuteness. "Yes; I wish you to go to England. There are other reasons--it will be better for you to see the machinery." "All right, your Excellency," said Derrick, promptly; for he felt as if he had placed himself in her hands. "When would you like me to start?" "To-morrow," she said. She raised her eyes and looked at him wistfully. "If you are to go, it is better for me--for you--for affairs, that you go at once." As she spoke, she opened a despatch-box lying on the table beside her and took out two packets. She held one out to him. "In this you will find some money; sufficient, I hope, to pay all expenses; if it is not, if you should need more, you will address yourself to the branch of the Bank of Spain in England, where I shall place some to your credit. Do not hesitate to use the money; I do not mean for the machinery only, but for any purpose for which you may want it. It is at your entire disposal. You will write to me----"