“You are engaged to the girl I meant to marry. You must forgive me if I fail to congratulate you.”
Pelham’s blue eyes wore a stormy expression.
“This is an awful blow to me, but all the same, for the sake of the girl, I want to help you. I know more about Mrs. Evershed than you have any idea of. She is in serious difficulties. Although you are engaged to Miss Evershed, you have not a chance of marrying her, because you are a poor man. Miss Evershed, as far as I can make out, will not allow the engagement to become public. That is an awkward thing for you. You would like to have everything straight and above board, would you not?”
“That goes without saying,” answered Dick. “But excuse me, Dr. Tarbot, I can scarcely understand——”
“My object in taking any trouble in the matter?” continued Tarbot. “It never occurred to you, did it, that there might be such a thing as disinterested love?”
“You are not the man to do anything noble without an object.”
“You are unfair to me, Pelham, and I shall prove to you that you are in the wrong. Mrs. Evershed’s difficulties are most serious. Between her and ruin there is but a step. Now, it so happens that I can help her.”
“You can help her—how?”
“By the loan of a sufficient sum of money to put her straight with her creditors for a considerable time.”
“Then for Heaven’s sake do it, Tarbot. It would be a generous action.”