CHAPTER XVII

It was the close of a long and painful discussion between the brothers--a discussion which had taken place, this time, in the sitting room of their suite in the Milan Court. On the table before them lay the rustling sheets of parchment, the document which they had opened that morning in fear and trembling, and which had confirmed their gravest apprehensions. By its side was a letter--another letter from Mr. Duncan. "It all comes back to the same thing," Stephen said firmly. "We have raised our expenditure to the li…