The Devil to Pay

Willie Hale liquidates his house and belongings in East Africa and heads back to England with almost nothing left. He buys a dog with the remaining money, hoping for a fresh start. Lord Leeland, though frustrated by Willie’s failures, gives him £100 to spend as he begins anew.

Back in England, Willie runs into his old girlfriend Mary Crayle, a theatre star, reviving past memories. He also meets Dorothy Hope, a family friend and heiress who is set to influence his fortunes. The stage is set for a tangled triangle of romance and ambition.

Willie takes Dorothy and his sister Susan to the Derby and wins a large fortune on a 50-to-1 longshot. The windfall sharpens Dorothy’s interest in Willie and raises the stakes of their growing bond. The victory foreshadows the financial and romantic entanglements to come.

Dorothy ends her engagement to Grand Duke Paul, drawn to Willie’s charm. Her decision marks a shift from aristocratic arrangements to personal attraction. The break heightens the pressure on Willie’s relationships.

Willie proposes to Dorothy, and she accepts only if he promises never to see Mary again. He agrees outwardly, though the condition strains him as he cannot fully sever Mary from his life. The engagement sets up a rivalry between loyalty, love, and social expectations.

Unable to tell Mary about the engagement by letter or telephone, Willie waits outside the theatre to deliver the news in person. The suspense grows as Mary remains unaware of the looming engagement. The scene highlights the complications of Willie's private life.

At Mary’s home, Willie finally explains his engagement to Dorothy. Mary is heartbroken by the news and feels betrayed by the man she once loved. The revelation underscores the emotional toll of Willie's decisions.

Mr. Hope hires a detective agency to shadow Willie. Dorothy orchestrates a telephone call to Mary, and when Willie answers, Dorothy is crushed. The staged contact deepens the rift between Willie, Dorothy, and Mary.

Dorothy offers Willie £5,000, assuming he has been chasing her inheritance. He takes the money and leaves with the check, whistling, but does not intend to keep it. The gesture reveals the complex mix of money, pride, and misperceptions at play.

After learning Paul is destitute, Willie sends money to him under Dorothy’s name, keeping his promise to help. Paul sends a note to Dorothy to express gratitude, which delights her but disillusions her father. The act underscores Willie’s generosity amid tangled loyalties.

Dorothy and Willie mend their relationship before he sails for New Zealand to start a sheep farm. The move represents a new start away from the English social intrigues that defined the earlier chapters. There remains a glimmer of hope for their future together.

Lord Leeland offers to buy Willie a farm in England, hinting that Mr. Hope’s money would be at risk if Willie fails again. The father’s cynicism foreshadows renewed pressure on Willie’s ventures. The note closes the chapter as Willie prepares to depart.