"Perhaps you suspect Eddy Vail?"
"I can't be sure of that either."
"Madame Coralie?"
"No," said Ralph, positively. "I can safely say that I do not suspect her, for she is behaving too well over Audrey's matter."
"That doesn't mean to say she wouldn't commit a crime if it suited her," said Lady Sanby, coolly. "She's not a nice woman, my dear, and the sooner you get that poor girl away from the Pink Shop the better it will be."
"I knew you would say that," said Shawe, quickly, "and for that reason I want you to help me, grannie--to help me and Audrey, that is."
"Of course. I like Audrey; she is a girl of spirit, and will make you a good wife. Well, what do you wish me to do? Ask her here to stay for a time?"
"No, no! Although it is kind of you to suggest it," said Shawe, hurriedly. "But people would talk and ask questions. No. I wish you to lend me one hundred pounds so that I can buy a special licence and marry Audrey at once, and have sufficient cash to take a journey."
"To go on your honeymoon, you mean," said Lady Sanby, humorously. "Well, your idea is a very good one. Marry her at once by special licence, and go away to some quiet place so that she can recover from all these troubles. Then bring her here as your wife, and she can stay with me for a week until you can find a house."
"Dear, dear grannie!"