Eva rose indignantly, "Lord Saltars," she said calmly and distinctly, "I don't allow any one to talk to me in this way. My engagement to Mr. Allen Hill is not a folly. And I don't see why my father should have talked to you about it." "Because he wanted me to marry you," said Saltars, rising and following her to the fireplace. Eva placed one slippered foot on the fender, and an elbow on the mantelpiece. She looked angry, but extremely pretty and well-bred. Saltars adopted the same attitude opposite her and looked more like a groom than ever. But the expression of his face was so good-natured that Eva could not feel as angry as she ought to have done. "I should never have married you," she said, her colour deepening. "I understand that you have other views." Saltars grew red in his turn. "It's that boy Cain's been talking," he said; "I'll break his head." "That is for you and Cain to decide," said Miss Strode indifferently, "but you can quite understand why I don't discuss these things." Saltars kicked the fender sulkily. "I wish you would be more friendly, Eva," he said. "I need a friend, and so, by Jove, do you." "How can I befriend you?" "Well, I'm in love with Miss Lorry, and there will be a shine if I marry her. She's perfectly straight and----" "I don't want to hear about her," said Eva angrily, "and if you were a gentlemen you wouldn't talk to me of that sort of person." "She's a perfectly decent sort," said Saltars, angry in his turn, "I intend to make her my wife." "That has nothing to do with me. And I wish you'd drop this conversation, Lord Saltars. It doesn't interest me. I am quite willing to be friends. Your manner is absurd, but you mean well. Come," and she held out her hand. Saltars took it with a long breath. "Just like the dowager," said he, "just as nippy. I'd like to see you have a turn up with old Lady Ipsen." "Well, then," said Eva, "now we are friends and you promise not to talk nonsense to me, tell me what you mean by my father making a fortune for me." "For both of us, by Jove," said his lordship; "you were to be Lady Saltars, and then we were to have forty thousand pounds." "But my father didn't leave me a penny," said Eva. "That's what I wish to see you about," said Saltars earnestly. "I heard from Mrs. Palmer's friends that you were without money, and were her companion, so I wrote asking to come to-night. I want to be your friend and help you. You ought to have forty thousand pounds." "How do you know that?" "Because I saw your father twice before he was killed: within the last six weeks. He told me that he had brought home forty thousand pounds. Twice he told me that; but he did not say how it was invested. I expect his lawyer, Mask, can tell you. He's my lawyer too." "Mr. Mask told me that I inherited no money." "Yet your father saw him," said the perplexed Saltars.