"Yes; when shall I see her?"
"The sooner the thing's done the better. I hate shilly-shallying. I'll send you a message this afternoon, perhaps."
"Had you not better write or come to me?"
"I mayn't be able to come; I'll write. My plan is this: that you and the young lady shall meet at a railway station, and take a train to the place I fix upon; I will follow by an after train, and pick you up in the country."
"That is a good plan," said Mrs. Lenoir, with secret joy at the opportunity he was affording her of rescuing the girl from the snare he had laid for her. "I will prepare myself."
"Make yourself presentable; dress like a lady, that's it. Here's some money--buy what you think you'll want--a fashionable dress and a spicy bonnet--it will help you to play your part; you've got good taste, I see." He placed two five-pound notes on the table. "Now I'm off."
"You will not mind my asking you a question," said Mrs. Lenoir, with lips that quivered, in spite of herself.
"Ask away."
"Has the young lady no mother?"
The words were uttered very slowly. It seemed to her that her life hung upon his answer.