“No, you’re not,” I said. I had recovered myself by this time. I looked at his poor flushed face, at his trembling hands. He was a thief, he had brought disgrace upon our poor but honest name, but at this moment I loved him fifty times better than George.
“Listen to me, Jack,” I said. “I won’t say one other word to abuse you at present. What’s more, I will do what I can to help you.”
“God bless you, Rosamund. You don’t really mean that? Really and truly?”
“I really and truly mean it. Now lie down and let me put these sheets straight. This is Friday. Something can be done between now and Monday. Are you quite sure that Mr Chillingfleet will not find out the loss of the notes before Monday?”
“Yes, he always banks on Monday, and he makes up his accounts then. Rose, you have got no money; you cannot save me.”
“I have certainly got no money, Jack, but I have got woman’s wit. Have you spent all the twenty pounds?”
“Every farthing. I owed a lot to Mrs Ashton, Hetty’s landlady.”
“Now you must give me Hetty’s address.”
“Oh, I say, Rose, you are a brick! Are you going to see her?”
“Yes, of course.”