‘Two or three hundred pounds, perhaps.’

‘I have not a shilling in the world, Mr Broune.’  Then it all came out,—­the whole story of her poverty, as it had been brought about by her son’s misconduct.  She told him every detail of her money affairs from the death of her husband, and his will, up to the present moment.

‘He is eating you up, Lady Carbury.’  Lady Carbury thought that she was nearly eaten up already, but she said nothing.  ’You must put a stop to this.’

‘But how?’

’You must rid yourself of him.  It is dreadful to say so, but it must be done.  You must not see your daughter ruined.  Find out what money he got from Miss Melmotte and I will...