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latest madness, and as the Eden solicitor. Sir Claudius knew he should counsel prudence. To this end, he ventured, "You've sold a great deal within the last few years, Edward. The property is exhaustible."
    "Then I shall exhaust it," Edward countered bluntly.
    "You have responsibilities—"
    Edward smiled. "The point of the sale."
    "—other responsibilities to your mother and brother, the entire community now living in Eden Castle."
    "And I will do nothing to alter that." The smile broadened. "It's not Eden I'm selling. Sir Claudius. Just a parcel of the twenty thousand acres deeded to me as an infant."
    Considerably reduced now, Sir Claudius commented, "James informs me that-"
    Again rage surfaced on the once smiling face. "My brother has nothing to do with it," Edward pronounced again, leaning over the desk. "His hounds and horses will always have a place. I'll see to it."

    "It will take time," Sir Claudius muttered, lowering his head, knowing that now he would be detained in these chambers for the better part of the morning. There were letters to write. The Countess Dowager had insisted upon being informed when another portion of the Eden estates crumbled beneath her.
    "Take all the time you need," smiled Edward graciously. "For now, give me a note in the required amount. Then when the sale is consummated, you may reimburse the account plus a generous interest for yourself."
    Sir Claudius protested. "I am not a bank clerk or a lending agent, Eden. I'm a solicitor."
    "And a rich solicitor," Edward concurred, "your private account well lined with Eden coin."
    Indignant, Sir Claudii|^ rose. The man had never been this coarse before. And he was perspiring like a hunting dog. And what was that over his eye? A wound, no doubt the result of public brawling.
    Sir Claudius turned away and stared gloomily out of the window.
    Behind him, Edward prodded gently. "The money. Sir Claudius, if you will. Do you doubt my collateral?"
    Sir Claudius tried a final time. "I beg you, remember your mother."
    "She is never out of my mind or heart."
    "If you do anything to bring additional pain down on her, I swear I will abandon you."
    Edward gazed at him with delighted astonishment.,"The abandonment would be twofold. Sir Claudius. You would have to go to work for a living in order to make up for the cream you skim off the top of the Eden fortune."
    Sir Claudius had heard enough. Now he straightened his shoulders under his fatigue and hurried to the door. "Johnson!" he shouted.
    The man materialized from behind a filing cabinet. Quickly Sir Claudius gave him instructions to fetch five thousand pounds from the safe and make a careful note of it in the debit ledger complete with interest. Then he turned back into the chamber and with disgust saw Edward gazing down on the sleeping female as though he were meditating on something grand.
    Slyly, still feeling a need to strike some sort of blow. Sir Claudius asked, "And what do you intend to do with that bit of soiled goods?"
    Edward raised his head. His voice came softly from across the room. "I may wed her. Sir Claudius," he smiled, "a very public ceremony in Westminster, with you as my best man."
    "You do that!" Sir Claudius snapped and hurriedly took refuge behind his desk as though to put that massive barrier between himself and the contamination.

    He watched carefully, the revulsion showing on his face as Edward gently roused the child. "Come, Elizabeth," he heard him whisper. "You can finish your nap in another place."
    The girl opened her eyes. For a moment there was terror in them as though she had not the slightest idea where she was. Looking up, she spied Edward and pressed close to him, her chin quivering, the mutilated hand clinging to his waistcoat.
    "It's all right," he soothed. "No need to be afraid."
    Sir Claudius watched the whole maudlin little scene, and wondered how long it would take to clear his chambers of the awful stench. Finally, with the girl clinging to him as the vine