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drifted into Dun territory. Always thought he could make a recover, and set all to rights! And I’m bound to own he had some astonishing runs of luck,’ added his lordship reflectively. ‘The pity was – But so it always is with your true gamester! Well, well, mum for that! But if you mean to set the blame for this after-clap at any other door than your father’s, set it at Stephen’s rather than your own! What that young rip cost Bardy, first and last – ! I tell you that, Adam, but we’ll say no more about it: the poor lad’s accounts are wound up now.’
    There was a short silence. Adam broke it. ‘I don’t know. But there is one matter for which I must blame myself, sir – as much as you do, I daresay.’
    Oversley replied with a heartiness assumed to conceal embarrassment: ‘No, I don’t. I’m not going to pitch any gammon about not knowing what you mean. The round tale is that I ought never to have let you make up to that girl of mine – and so I knew!’ He smiled wryly. ‘You know, Adam, there’s no one I’d liefer have for a son-in-law than you, if the dibs had been in tune, but I knew they weren’t, and I ought to have hinted you away as soon as I saw which quarter the wind was in. The fact is I thought it was just a flirtation, and the lord knows you needed something to divert you at that time! I never supposed it would last, once you’d rejoined. And it’s my belief it wouldn’t have done so – at any rate with Julia! – if it hadn’t been for this shocking business, because there’s no denying that Julia’s a taking little puss, and she don’t want for suitors. She’s had ’em all dangling after her, ever since she came out, and has had as many silly nick-names foisted on to her as poor William Lamb’s wife. Sprite – Sylph – Zephyr – ! Pshaw!’ said his lordship, imperfectly disguising his pride. ‘Enough to turn the chit’s head! Now, I don’t say she wasn’t cut up when you went back to Spain: she was. In fact, her mother would have it that she’d mope herself into a decline, but that was all flim-flam! A girl who has a dozen posies sent her in a day don’t go into a decline! And if you ask me – and I don’t say it to wound you, Adam! – she’d have forgotten that interlude if it hadn’t been for some chucklehead calling her the Unattainable. That grassed us, of course. Took to thinking herself pledged to a gallant soldier, and made such a hero of you as would have made the hair rise on your scalp! And then poor Bardy was killed, and there was no keeping it from her that you were in the suds. So now she’s declaring that she’ll never give you up, which pretty well gaps me – or it would, if I didn’t know you too well to think – Damme, Adam, this is a devilish hard thing to say to you, but –’
    ‘You needn’t say it, sir!’ Adam interrupted, rising, and going with a quick, uneven step to the window. ‘Of course it’s impossible! I’ve known that ever since I first saw my father’s man of business. I should have come to you immediately – I beg your pardon! I hoped things might not be as bad as Wimmering described. In fact, they are worse. I’m not in a position to offer for anyone. I never dreamed I could say it, but I wish – yes, with all my heart! – that she had forgotten me!’ His voice shook; he made a gallant attempt to conceal his emotion, saying: ‘I shouldn’t then have been obliged to cry off, which I must do – and came here to do.’
    Lord Oversley, rising also, and going to him to lay a hand on his shoulder, said: ‘I know, my boy, I know! And if I were a rich man –’
    He was interrupted. The door opened suddenly; a male voice was heard to exclaim: ‘No, dash it, Julia, you can’t – !’ and he and Adam turned to see that Miss Oversley was standing on the threshold, one hand clasping the door-knob, the other holding her riding-whip and gloves.
    For a moment or two she remained there, her lips parted in eagerness,