I don't say that I have not had all the expenses of our living saved; that I had no objection to; but I was determined at least not to take a penny put of the estate beyond those expenses.

You see, Mark, you will have your 12,500 pounds anyhow, as soon as Millicent comes of age--not a bad little sum--so that even if you never hear anything more of this mysterious treasure you will not be penniless, or in anyway dependent upon me.

At my death, of course, you will come into the Sussex place, with what savings there may be." "I am sure I have no reason to grumble, father," Mark said heartily.
"Of course it came upon me at first as a surprise that Millicent was the heiress here, and it flashed through my mind for the moment that the best thing would be to take a commission in the army, or to follow my uncle's example, and get a cadetship in the Company's service.

I have no doubt that I should have enjoyed life either way quite as much or possibly more than if I had gone on a good many years as heir to these estates, and afterwards as Squire.

Of course, now I shall make it my business to see if it is possible to obtain some sort of clew to this treasure, and then follow it up; but the first thing to which I shall give my mind will be to hunt down Bastow.