"My poor little Violet," he said kindly. "I can see you are very upset; at least, it is plain to me who have known you from a baby. If you had only told your maid to 'phone me up before you started, I would have delayed you, and prevented this." She sank down on a chair with a little weary sigh. "You have always been my best friend, Juan. Heaven knows what I should have done or where I should have been without you." "Tut, tut." The "financier" was very human where women were concerned. "And you are fond of this fellow, eh, apart from other considerations?" "I was, Juan, but now I hate him," was the uncompromising reply. "Still, on the whole, I am not sure I would have missed that little talk with him. Clever young man of the world as he is, ready and quick as he was, I cut him to the quick. I made him feel very small." Jackson chuckled. "I will wager you gave him a good dressing down, when you once started. Well now, my child, I guess you want to see me on something important." "Something very important," was the reply. The two drew their chairs closely together, and conversed in low tones, using the Spanish language. CHAPTER THREE. To a man of Lord Saxham's ancient lineage and broad acres, although those same broad acres were somewhat heavily encumbered, General Clandon was a mere nobody. He was just one of the many thousands of persons who are entitled to be called gentlemen, as a matter of courtesy, but have no claim to rank in the same category with pure aristocracy. All the same, the General came of very respectable stock, from that section of the small landowning class which is the backbone of the territorial interest. His forbears had been settled in Kent for some six generations. His eldest brother, Hugh Clandon, who had ruled over Clandon Place, had a rent roll of some five thousand a year clear. To an ordinary person, in a lower walk of life, this would seem by no means a despicable income. But Clandon Place was a large house, and cost a good deal to keep up, even on an economical scale. And all the Clandons, with the solitary exception of the General himself, were exceedingly prolific. His brother Hugh had eight children. He was one of ten. Daughters had to be portioned off, sons had to be educated and started in the world. Geoffrey Clandon inherited a few thousands on his father's death; he always thought his father must have been a wonderful man to leave so much, considering the calls upon him. The General contrived to live upon the modest income derived from this small capital, plus his half-pay. He now lived at Eastbourne upon the somewhat slender revenue. When he died, his only child, Isobel, would have a few hundred pounds a year to call her own.