"It would not afford you any pleasure, mother," he said, "and I should
not have mentioned it but as an additional reason why I must be off."
"You unhappy boy! You have been doing something dreadful!"
"It's not over-good," acknowledged Roland. "Perhaps I'll write you word
all about it from London. I've not smothered William Yorke, or set old
Galloway's office on fire, and those respected gentlemen are my two
_betes noires_. So don't look so scared, mother."
"Roland!" uttered Lady Augusta, as the fact struck her, "if you go off
in this manner, all the money that was paid with you to Mr. Galloway
will be lost! I might as well have sent it down the gutter."
"So I said at the time," answered cool Roland. "Never mind that,
mother. What's that paltry hundred or two, compared with the millions I
shall make? And as to these folks that I owe money to--"
"They'll be coming upon me," interposed Lady Augusta. "Heaven knows,
_I_ have enough to pay."
"They will do nothing of the sort," said Roland. "You have no legal
right to pay my debts. Not one of them but has been contracted since I
was of age. If they come to you, tell them so."
"Roland, Lord Carrick gave you money once or twice when he was here,"
resumed Lady Augusta, "I know he did. What have you done with it all?"
"Money melts," responded Roland. "Upon my word of honour, I do believe
it must melt at times; it vanishes so quickly.
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