Red Money

od. The master of The Manor grumbled a good deal at the high tone taken by his brother-in-law, as, having the instincts of a landlord, he strongly objected to the presence of su

gton, in a tone of disgust, to the secretary. "Pine's alway

dryly, "I suppose

ad," retorted the other. "Since I don't interfere

ent, it is his business," insisted Silver tartly. "And

and blackguards every one of them. I know that Pine is always helping rotters in London, but I

d the secretary, not unwilling to draw that youn

my reward. He meddles with my business alo

ambert did tell him, bu

d growing red all over his chubby face. "Otherwise Pine would n

e to pass the time, and his housekeeper said that he h

gton carelessly. "He's sick of town, S

asked the secr

to, as Garvington, aware that the neat, foxy-faced man was his brother-in-law's confidential adviser, felt sure that everything was known to him. "I

him, Garvington hated the man with all the power of his mean and narrow mind, and as the millionaire returned this dislike with a feeling of profound contempt

e vicinity. Miss Greeby had been very disappointed to learn that the young man had gone to London, but heard from Mrs. Tribb that he was expected back in three days. She therefore lingered so as to have another conversation with him, and meanwhile haunted the gypsy camp for the purpose of keeping an eye on Chaldea, who was much too beautiful for her peace of mind. Sometimes Silver accompanied her, as the lady had given him to understand that she knew Pine's r

o escape her, she made up her impatient mind to repair to London, and to hunt him up at his club. With this idea she intimated to Lady Garvington that she was leavi

I wish you would change your mind. Nearly everyon

was chilly, and what with paint and powder, and hair-dye, to say nothing of her artistic and

l. "You are quite a host in yourself. And that recipe you gave me for Patagonian soup kept Garv

is here

" said that lady, smiling in a weary manner,

k in Miss Greeby abruptly. "For of co

s very direct gaze, but replied equably enough

stioned Lady Garvington, more to manufacture

arrying out some special business an

see him, no doubt,"

d manner. She knew perfectly well that Miss Greeby hated her, and guessed the reason, but

a side glance, taking in both Miss Greeby and Lady Agnes. "Only this morning I received a chit-chat letter from Mr. L

wrote yesterday from London, asking if he might come. I told him ye

ce, the old lady could not see, for the millionaire's wife shielded it-presumably from the fire-with a large fan of white feathers. Had Mrs. Belgrove been able to read that countenance she would have seen satisfaction w

or and saw her own opulent, full-blown looks clothed in a pale-blue dinner-gown, which went so well-as she inartistically decided, with her ruddy locks, Mrs. Belgrove considered that Miss Greeby looked like a paint-box, or a sunset, or one of Turner's most vivid pictures, but the heiress was very well pleased with herself. Lady Agnes, in her favorite white, with her pale face and serious looks, was but a du

y come and stay where she was. As for Pine's wife, she was a washed-out creature, who had never really loved her cousin as people had thought. And after all, why should she, since he was so poor, especially when she was married to a millionaire with the looks of an Eastern prince, and manners of quite an original nature, although these were not quite conventiona

ged for music. After a song or so and the execution of a Beethoven sonata, to which no one paid any attention, a young lady gave a dance after the manner of Maud Allan, to which everyone attended. Then came feats of strength, in which Miss Greeby proved herself to be a female Sandow, and later a number of the guests sojourned to the billiard-room to play. When they grew weary of tha

ton to her husband, when she drifted against him in the course o

man, who was looking worried, and not quite his usual self. "I w

I knew that Patagonian so

snorted Freddy, smacking his lips over the

Garvington anxiously. She liked her bro

sual lung trouble, I suppose. But he is

s, Fred

it, I want money, and he won't st

to Mr.

Mr. Si

awing herself up. "Mr. Silver is very kind. He went to that gypsy camp and found out how

k it," and Freddy listened with both his red ears to the description, on hearing which he decided

horrid snails you insisted on being cooked a week ago made m

arvington. "These cooks have no invention. I wish I'd lived

cookery?" asked Lady G

stuff about wars and migrations

d do you, Lord Garvington? I met one of them the other day-quite a girl and very pretty in a dark way. She told my fortune, and said that I would come in for a lot of mon

Freddy, standing before the fire and glaring at the com

y that he looked more of a foxy, neat bounder than ever. "I have n

the third floor. Just like a little bird in its tiny-weeny

ss Greeby in her deep voice. "It's

om, Lord Garvington. Do! do! do! To please poor little me," and she effusi

Mrs. Belgrove," remarked Lady Agnes negligently. "Hubert has told me a g

eby, looking at the beautiful, pale face, and wondering if she re

a, any of you, how good Hubert is," she added, addressing the company generally. "He walks on the Embankment sometimes on winter nig

he resemblance between the tramps' faces and that of her own husband. "However, I hop

"I shouldn't like to get

o protect themselves from men like you," she said, amidst great laughter

said Garvington crossly. "Bu

em off your land then?"

what I'll do," he retorted, crossing the room to the middle French window of the drawing-room. "I wish you fellow

n officer who had come over from some twelve-mile distant barrac

he said in sharp rebuke, and the girl had the sense to be silent,

Greeby, laughing. "Or do you expect b

tell you I hate the idea of these lawless gypsies about the pl

other," cried the officer. "I shouldn't mind

sing-rooms and the men to have a final smoke and a final drink. Garvington, with two footmen, and his butler, went round the house, carefully c

alone with Lady Garvington in her own bedroom. "It would be so

, Agnes," said the sis

her. "But Garvington always asks people here who haven't two

sks those he

ins, and his guests suit

gton. "I'm sure I might as well be a cook.

g after food. Your mother was much the same; she always kept a good

n bread and water f

eddy"-checking her speech, she spread out her hands with an ineffable look-"I'm glad that Noel is coming," she en

at her anxiously. "You

r. Why s

ee, Agnes,

Noel and I entirely u

e other woman, "that it

to be. He has kept his part of the bargain, so I keep mine. But," she added with a pale smile, "when I think how I sold myself to keep up

t our ruin," bleated

ent fool, and is eating his way into the next world. It will be

e was shocked, "he

you have either. Now, go away and sleep. It's no use lying awake thinking

rtly the clock over the stables struck midnight, and by that time Garvington the virtuous had induced all his men guests to go to bed. The women chatted a little longer,

from the house. He sped down the broad path, and just when he was abreast of a miniature shrubbery, she heard a second shot, which seemed to be fired there-from. The man staggered, and stumbled and fell. Immediately afterwards, her brother-she recognized his voice raised in anger-ran out of the house, followed by some of the male guests. Terrified by the sight and the sound of the shots, Lady Agnes huddled on her dressing-gown hastily, and thrust her bare feet into slippers. The next moment she was out of

she asked, gasping with

ington, looking up with a distorted f

t sight of the fallen man's countenance and shr

stood at her elbow. "S