"The estate hardly meets its own mortgage, and the land has been so neglected as to be almost valueless." He quoted his last steward's report, though she did not know it. "My lady does not realise this?" he questioned.
"She realises nothing—how should she? you have kept us in ignorance."
"By Gad, I only knew myself a few days ago," said the Earl. "When I was forced to look into the cursed business."
"But Marius has his money?" cried Susannah.
"Marius has not a penny! It will be pleasant telling him so, will it not?"
Susannah rose.
"I do not understand."
"Marius never had any money, my lord dying so suddenly without a will—Brereton was our guardian, and a careless one."
"Careless!" interrupted Susannah Chressham. "There has been fine carelessness here——"
"Damned carelessness," answered the Earl with a short laugh. "And when Brereton died and I took over my own affairs—I'm afraid I didn't improve on it. But Marius has not been stinted."