A few days after the ball Roger Carbury was up in town and was closeted with her in her back drawing-room. The declared cause of his coming was the condition of the baronet's affairs and the indispensable necessity,--so Roger thought,--of taking some steps by which at any rate the young man's present expenses might be brought to an end. It was horrible to him that a man who had not a shilling in the world or any prospect of a shilling, who had nothing and never thought of earning anything should have hunters! He was very much in earnest about it, and quite prepared to speak his mind to the young man himself,--if he could get hold of him. 'Where is he now, Lady Carbury,--at this moment?'
'I think he's out with the Baron.' Being 'out with the Baron.' meant that the young man was hunting with the staghounds some forty miles away from London.
'How does he manage it? Whose horses does he ride? Who pays for them?'
'Don't be angry with me, Roger. What can I do to prevent it?'
'I think you should refuse to have anything to do with him while he continues in such courses.'
'My own son!'
'Yes;--exactly. But what is to be the end of it? Is he to be allowed to ruin you and Hetta? It can't go on long.'
'You wouldn't have me throw him over.'
'I think he is throwing you over. And then it is so thoroughly dishonest,--so ungentlemanlike! I don't understand how it goes on from day to day. I suppose you don't supply him with ready money?'
'He has had a little.'
Roger frowned angrily. 'I can understand that you should provide him with bed and food, but not that you should pander to his vices by giving him money.' This was very plain speaking, and Lady Carbury winced under it. 'The kind of life that he is leading requires a large income of itself. I understand the thing, and know that with all I have in the world I could not do it myself.'
'You are so different.'
'I am older of course,--very much older. But he is not so young that he should not begin to comprehend. Has he any money beyond what you give him?'
Then Lady Carbury revealed certain suspicions which she had begun to entertain during the last day or two. 'I think he has been playing.'
'That is the way to lose money,--not to get it.' said Roger.