"You know, Ancram, that I am not a rich man for one in my station."
Algernon bowed gracefully.
"Had I been so, I should have made a settlement upon Castalia; but, although I have no daughters of my own to provide for," (with a little sigh) "yet my property is very strictly tied up. There are claims on it, too, of various sorts——" ("Lady Seely screws all she can out of him for that nephew of hers," was Algy's mental comment.) "And, in brief, I am not in a position to command any large sums of ready money. I believe I said as much to you before?"
Algernon bowed again and smiled.
"Well, I repeat it now, in order to impress on you the fact, that neither you nor Castalia must look to me for pecuniary help in the future."
"Oh, my lord——"
"I do not say that Castalia might not have a right to ask such help of me; but I merely assure you that it will be out of my power to grant it. You, perhaps, scarcely realise how poor a man may be who has a fairly large rent-roll?"
"I think I have begun to realise it, my lord."
Lord Seely looked quickly into the young man's face, but it was smiling and inscrutable.
"Well," he resumed, "I will only add, that for this once, and presuming your present debts are not heavy——"