He had not seen Luce that morning, for he had been out, inquiring at the

lodge at six, and had gone straight on to Anglebridge, where he had

breakfasted.

In his heart he had been glad of the excuse for his absence, for the few

hours of reprieve. But he would have to see her now, would have to ask

her to be his wife--while his heart ached with love for Nell!

As he drove up to the door, one of the Angleford carriages came round

from the stables. He glanced at it absently, and entered the hall

slowly, draggingly, and was amazed to find Lord Turfleigh, in overcoat

and hat, standing beside a pile of luggage.

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"By George! just in time, Drake!" he exclaimed, his thick voice

quavering with suppressed excitement, his hands shaking as he tugged at

his gloves. "Just had bad news--deuced bad news!"

But though he described the intelligence as bad, there was a note of

satisfaction in his voice.

"I'm sorry. What is it?" asked Drake.

"Buckleigh--Buckleigh and his boy gone down in that infernal yacht of

his!" said Lord Turfleigh hoarsely.

He turned aside as he spoke to take a brandy and soda which the footman

had brought.

The Marquis of Buckleigh was Lord Turfleigh's elder brother, and, if the

news were true, Lord Turfleigh was now the marquis, and a rich man.

Drake understand the note of satisfaction in the whisky-shaken voice.

"Just time to catch the train!" said the new marquis. "Where the devil

is Luce? I always said Buckleigh would drown himself----Where is Luce?

She thinks I'll go without her; but I won't!" He swore.

At that moment Lady Luce came down the stairs. She was coming down

slowly, reluctantly, her fair face set sullenly; but at sight of Drake

her expression changed, and she ran down to him. There might yet be time

for the one word.

"Drake!" she cried, in a low voice, "I am going----You have heard?"

"Yes, yes," her father broke in testily. "I've told him. Get in. It will

be a near thing as it is. Come on, I tell you!" and he shambled down the

steps to the carriage.

She held Drake's hand and looked into his eyes appealingly.

"You see! I must go!" she murmured.

He nodded gravely.

"But you will come back?" he said, as gravely. "Come back as soon as you

can."

Her face lit up, and she breathed softly. She was now the daughter of a

rich man, but she wanted Drake, none the less.




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