"I mean I am as far in debt as I can go—that my credit is no longer good for—anything. That Lyndwood must go to pay its mortgage, that is what I mean."
"I don't understand," answered Marius stupidly.
"Have you never heard of a man being ruined before?" asked the Earl. "Gad, it is not so rare!"
"But in such a fashion—so suddenly."
Rose Lyndwood shrugged his shoulders.
"Not so suddenly, only we ignored everything until now. The crash—who cared as long as the money came from somewhere? Neither I nor you, nor my lady."
Marius took a step towards his brother.
"And my fortune?" he said.
Lord Lyndwood gave him a kindly glance.
"For that I am sorry," he answered, "and blame myself that ye have ever been led to believe there was anything solely yours, for now that I can no longer pay your allowance ye stand there as poor as I."