"But there is. She has—" Then he stopped, as though to cover the slip. Fairchild leaned forward.
"She?"
Mr. Barnham gave the appearance of a very flustered man.
"My tongue got away from me; I should n't have said it. I really should n't have said it. If she ever finds it out, it will mean trouble for me. But truly," and he beamed, "you are such a tough customer to deal with and so suspicious—no offense meant, of course—that I really was forced to it. I—feel sure she will forgive me."
"Whom do you mean by 'she'?"
Mr. Barnham smiled in a knowing manner.
"You and I both know," came his cryptic answer. "She is your one great, good friend. She thinks a great deal of you, and you have done several things to cause that admiration. Now, Mr. Fairchild, coming to the point, suppose she should point a way out of your troubles?"
"How?"
"In the first place, you and your partner are in very great difficulties."
"Are we?" Fairchild said it sarcastically.