“To own the truth, sir,” said the Viscount apologetically, “I don’t call myself anything!” He waited for a moment, watching with as much sympathy as amusement the champing of his parent’s jaws, and then said coaxingly: “Now, come, Papa! What have I done to earn such a trimming from you?”

“What have you done to earn praise from me?” instantly countered the Earl. “Nothing! You’re a skitter-brain, sir! A slibberslabber here-and-thereian, with no more thought for what you owe your name than some rubbishing commoner! A damned scattergood—and you’ve no need to remind me that you’re not dependent on me for the money you waste on your horses, and your betting, and your bits of muslin, for I’m well aware of it, and what I said at the time, and say now, and always shall say is that it was just like your great-aunt to leave her fortune to you, and exactly what might have been expected of such a shuttlehead as she was! As well have handed you a carte blanche to commit every sort of—of extravagant folly! But on that head,” said his lordship inaccurately, but with perfect sincerity, I shall say nothing! She was your mother’s aunt and that circumstance seals my lips.”

He paused, throwing a challenging glance at his heir, but the Viscount merely said, with becoming meekness: “Just so, Papa!”

“Had she stipulated that her fortune was to be used for the support of your wife and family I should have thought it a very proper bequest,” announced his lordship, adding, however: “Not that I was not at that time, and at this present, able and willing to increase your allowance to enable you to meet the added expenses consequent on your entry into the married state.”

He paused again, and the Viscount, feeling that some comment was expected, said politely that he was much obliged to him.

“Oh, no, you’re not!” said his lordship grimly. “And, what’s more, you won’t be until you provide me with a grandson, no matter how fast your great-aunt’s fortune burns in your pockets! Upon my word, a pretty set of children I have!” he said, suddenly enlarging his scope. “Not one of you cares a straw for the Family! At my age I might have expected to have had a score of grandchildren to gladden my last years! But have I? No! Not one!”