Chayne, however, followed her father from the room and caught him up as he was leaving the hotel.
"I want to say," he began with some difficulty, "that, if you are pressed at all for money—"
Garratt Skinner stopped him. He pulled some sovereigns out of one pocket and some banknotes out of another.
"You see, I have enough to go on with. In fact—" and he looked northward toward the mountains. Dimly they could be seen under the sickle of a new moon. "In fact, I propose to-morrow to take your friend Simond and cross on the high-level to Zermatt."
"But afterward?" asked Chayne.
Garratt Skinner laughed and laughed like a boy. There was a rich anticipation of enjoyment in the sound.
"Afterward? I shall have a great time. I shall squeeze Mr. Jarvice. It's what they call in America a cinch."
And with a cheery good-night Garratt Skinner betook himself down the road.