If it be not--the more likely thing to happen--do I understand that my daughter and you intend to get married whether I give or withhold my sanction ?" Anstruther rose and opened the door.
"I have ventured to tell you," he said, "why she should not marry Lord Ventnor.

When I come to you and ask you for her, which I pray may be soon, it will be time enough to answer that question, should you then decide to put it." It must be remembered that Robert knew nothing whatever of the older man's predicament, whilst the baronet, full of his own troubles, was in no mood to take a reasonable view of Anstruther's position.

Neither Iris nor Robert could make him understand the long-drawn-out duel of their early life on the island, nor was it easy to depict the tumultuous agony of that terrible hour on the ledge when the girl forced the man to confess his love by suggesting acceptance of the Dyaks' terms.
Thus, for a little while, these two were driven apart, and Anstruther disdained to urge the plea that not many weeks would elapse before he would be a richer man than his rival.

The chief sufferer was Sir Arthur Deane.

Had Iris guessed how her father was tormented, she would not have remained on the bridge, radiant and mirthful, whilst the grey-haired baronet gazed with stony-eyed despair at some memoranda which he extracted from his papers.
"Ten thousand pounds!" he muttered.