Now that the Drought had broken they would be more likely to let him go on....

He thought of the 3,000 pounds Sir Luke Tallant had made him put into settlement on his marriage.

He had not wanted to do that at the time; his Scotch caution had revolted against the tying up of his resources, and his instinct was justified.

If only he had command of that money now! It was his own; his wife was rich; that was the one benefit he could have taken from her....

But it was impossible to broach the question.
Suddenly the dog stirred uneasily, sniffed the air and leaped to the gravel walk where it stood giving short, uncertain barks, as though aware of something happening outside for which it could not account.
McKeith lifted his head, bent in the absorption of his thought, and looked about for the disturber of Veno's placidity.