She had always heard the income fixed at thirty thousand a year.

What would a few debts signify to thirty thousand a year?
Such had been her thoughts up to the period of Captain Scarborough's late visit, when he had come to Cheltenham, and had renewed his demand for Florence's hand somewhat roughly.

He had spoken ambiguous words, dreadful words, declaring that an internecine quarrel had taken place between him and his father; but these words, though they had been very dreadful, had been altogether misunderstood by Mrs.Mountjoy.The property she knew to be entailed, and she knew that when a property was entailed the present owner of it had nothing to do with its future disposition.

Captain Scarborough, at any rate, was anxious for the marriage, and Mrs.Mountjoy was inclined to accept him, encumbered as he now was with his father's wrath, in preference to poor Harry Annesley.
In June Harry came up to London, and there learned at his club the singular story in regard to old Mr.Scarborough and his son.

Mr.
Scarborough had declared his son illegitimate, and all the world knew now that he was utterly penniless and hopelessly in debt.