“Which she must find very satisfying,” remarked Mordaunt.  “Now look here, boy!  There must be no more of this.  You will have to keep within your allowance in future.”

“My dear chap, it’s all jolly fine—­I can’t!” protested Noel.  “Why, I only get about twopence-halfpenny a term.  It isn’t enough to pay a cat’s expenses, besides being always up to the eyes in debt.”

Mordaunt heaved a sigh of resignation.  “I suppose I had better look into your affairs.  Write down as clear a statement of your debts as you can, and let me have it.”

“I say—­really?” Noel looked up eagerly.  “You’re not in earnest?”

“Yes, I am.  And afterwards—­you are to keep within your means, or if you don’t I must know the reason why.”

Noel grinned with cheery impudence.  “You’ll swish me, I suppose, to improve my morals?  Wish I had as many sovereigns as I’ve had swishings.  They would keep me in clover for a year.”

Mordaunt laughed rather grimly.  “I don’t waste my time licking hardened sinners like you.  I’ve something better to do.”

Noel echoed his laugh with keen enjoyment.  “You’re rather a beast, but I like you.  Have you paid Rupert’s debts, too?  He is always on the verge of bankruptcy.  Shouldn’t wonder if Max is as well, but he keeps his affairs so dark.  I expect he is in the hands of the money-lenders—­I know Rupert was years ago.”

“I don’t think he is now,” Mordaunt said.

“Don’t you?  What’s the betting on that?  He could no more keep out of their clutches than he could fly over the moon.  I say”—­he suddenly burst into a peal of boyish laughter—­“it’s the funniest thing on earth to see you shouldering the family burdens.  How you will wish you hadn’t!  And that French beggar you’ve adopted, too, who is safe to rob you sooner or later!  Why don’t you start a home for waifs and strays at once?  I’ll help you run it.  I’ll do the accounts.”

Mordaunt laughed, in spite of himself.  “Very kind of you!  But I think there are enough of you for the present.”

“All highly satisfactory,” grinned Noel.  “What a pity you didn’t marry Aunt Philippa, I say!  She would have been much more useful to you than Chris. Never thought of that, I suppose?”

“Never!” said Mordaunt.

“Poor old Aunt Phil!” Noel chuckled afresh.  “She would have been in her element if you had only given her the chance.  She hates us all like poison.  I suppose you know why?”

“Haven’t an idea,” Mordaunt spoke repressively, “unless your general behaviour has something to do with it.”

“Oh, very likely it has,” Noel conceded.  “But the chief reason was that our father diddled her out of a lot of money.  He was hard up, and she was rolling.  So he—­borrowed a little.”  He glanced at Mordaunt with a queer grimace.  “Most unfortunately he didn’t live to pay it back.  I shouldn’t tell anyone this, but I don’t mind telling you, as you are one of the family.”