"Poverty!" Gerald glanced round the luxurious room, crowded with such splendid things. Mrs. Crosbie shrugged again. "These are only necessities," she said contemptuously; "fancy a woman of my tastes having to live in a flat, and being bothered by tradespeople! I want a town house, a country house, a yacht, a chance of traveling all over Europe like other rich people. In fact, I want thousands a year, and I have not got them." Gerald looked down meditatively. So Tod was right after all, and Mrs. Crosbie was hard up, even to the extent of being dunned by tradespeople. He wondered if he could help her. "You have known me long enough to accept a check," he stammered. She whiffed away the offer contemptuously. "Although I thank you very much for offering the money," she said graciously, "you always were a dear boy. But the amount of money I want would ruin you, since I am aware that you have but the five hundred a year left by your dear mother. There! there!" she tapped him with her closed fan, "we won't talk further of these disagreeable things. All will be well." "When you marry Major Rebb?" asked Haskins pointedly. "Why not? The Major is not bad-looking, and has a good position, and at least five thousand a year." "Six, I believe," corrected Gerald. "Who told you that?" "Tod Macandrew. He heard it from your mother." Mrs. Crosbie nodded. "Yes; I believe that my mother asked Mr. Macandrew some questions regarding settlements on the chance that I should marry Major Rebb. But Mr. Macandrew should not have spoken about this." "He did not," said Gerald hastily, "you can still trust Macandrew as your legal adviser. He has not betrayed your confidence regarding settlements. He merely mentioned Major Rebb's income." "How did you come to be talking of Major Rebb?" Gerald flung the fag end of his cigarette into a silver ashtray, and rose to pace the room. He could always talk better when in motion. "I want you to help me, Madge," he remarked. "You mustn't call me Madge," said Mrs. Crosbie, with a look at the door. "Major Rebb would not like it." "Then you are engaged?" "Well, yes. I want money and----" "Are you quite sure that Rebb has money?" Mrs. Crosbie started to her feet, and crossing the room gripped the young man by his arm. Her face was perfectly pale, and her voice sounded uncommonly hoarse. "What do you mean?" "I don't mean anything," said Gerald, astonished by her emotion. "Rebb is no doubt as wealthy as King Solomon. I only meant that you should make sure of the settlement. As your friend, I could say nothing else." But Mrs. Crosbie was not satisfied. "You have heard no rumor to the effect that Major Rebb is poor, or is likely to lose his money?" "No! no! no!" said Haskins in perfect good faith, "do sit down and compose yourself. If anything were wrong in that way I should speak out."