"All in all, or not at all," finished Brendon; "quite so." He paused and drew hard at his pipe. "Since I want money I must trust you." "Is it only for that reason that you consider me worthy of your confidence?" asked Leonard, much mortified. George leaned forward and patted him on the knee. "No, old man. I wish you to help me also." "In what way?" "With Dorothy Ward," replied George, looking closely at his pipe. "Was she in your mind to-night when that old maid was telling the cards?" asked Train, sitting up with a look of interest. Brendon nodded. "But I do not wish you to mention her name. That was why----" "I know. I was foolish. Well, she's a pretty girl, and as good as she is pretty." "Which is marvelous," said Brendon, "considering the fashionable mother she has." Train smiled. "Mrs. Ward is certainly a leader of fashion." "And as heartless as any woman I know," observed Brendon. He glanced affectionately at the yellow holly. "Dorothy gave me this to-night." "Did you see her before you came here?" "Yes. I went to afternoon tea. We--" Brendon examined his pipe again--"we understand one another," he said. Leonard sprang to his feet. "My dear chap, I congratulate you." "Thanks! but it's too early for congratulation as yet. Mrs. Ward wants her daughter to make a good marriage. George Brendon will not be the husband of her choice, but Lord Derrington!" "Does she want her daughter to marry that old thing?" "You don't understand, Leonard. I mean that if I become Lord Derrington when the old man dies Mrs. Ward will consent." Train sat down helplessly and stared. "I don't understand," he said. "I'll put the thing in a nutshell," explained Brendon. "Lord Derrington is my grandfather." "Your--but he never lived here?" "No. The grandfather who lived here, and with whom I stayed, was my mother's father. He was called Lockwood. Derrington is my father's father. Now do you understand?" "Not quite! How can you become Lord Derrington when he has a grandson--that young rip Walter Vane!" "Walter Vane is the son of my father's brother, and my father was the elder and the heir to the title." "Then, if Lord Derrington dies you become----" "Exactly. But the difficulty is that I have to establish my birth." Leonard jumped up and clutched his hair. "Here's a mystery," he said, staring at his friend. "What does it all mean?" "Sit down and I'll tell you!" Leonard resumed his seat and glanced at the clock. "We have a quarter of an hour," he said, "but I think we'll defy Mrs. Jersey and sit up this night." "No," said Brendon, hastily; "we may as well do what she wants. I wish to conciliate her. She is the only person who can help to prove my mother's marriage." "Humph! I thought there was something queer about her. Who was she?" "My mother's maid! But I had better tell you from the beginning."