She did, but lied nobly.

"You're perfectly right," she answered; "I was a coward to think of it."

Kent squeezed her hand.

"You're a trump," he said. "Little woman, I've another idea—Turquand!"

She was breathless.

"Beautiful!"

"If Turquand has got it, Turquand will lend it; but—but has he? Well, it's worth trying. Let's see: I can catch the post; he'll get the letter in the morning. If he answered on the instant, we could have the money to-morrow night. Good Lord! how tired I am! Where's the stationery?"

He dashed off a note begging his friend to send five pounds ten—or six pounds, if he could manage to spare so much—immediately, and then he remembered that he could not buy a stamp. There was a sick pause; defeat confronted them again.

"There's nothing for it," he said; "I must go and ask the Garins! I'd post it without one if we were in England, but here——"

He left her walking about the room in excitement and went down.