"They've got the word," said Talbot to himself. "Now the responsibility rests with them. Now I will go and see Virginia."
His face flushed, and his eyes lighted up with joy, as he uttered her name. He was deeply in love, and he felt that at last he was in a position to win the consent of the object of his passion. He knew, or, rather, he suspected her to be coldly selfish, but he was infatuated. It was enough that he had fulfilled the conditions imposed upon him. In a few days he would be on his way to Europe with the lady of his love. Matters were so arranged that the loss of the twelve thousand dollars would be credited to the burglars. He would escape suspicion. If his European journey should excite a shadow of suspicion, nothing could be proved, and he could represent that he had been lucky in stock speculations, as even now he intended to represent to Miss Conway.
He was not afraid that she would be deeply shocked by his method of obtaining money, but he felt that it would be better not to trust her with a secret, which, if divulged, would compromise his safety.
"Is Miss Conway at home?" he inquired.
Yes, Miss Conway was at home, and she soon entered the room, smiling upon him inquiringly.
"Well," she said, "have you any news to tell me?"
"Virginia, are you ready to fulfill your promise?" asked Talbot, eagerly.
"What promise?"
"You know, surely."