“By Jove, Miss Dane, you astonish me more each time I see you. But how about the Baumgartners?”
“I shall simply write a note resigning my situation. It is a mere question of doing that to–day or three weeks hence. But I shall not tell them why I am leaving their service so suddenly.”
“Baumgartner will find out. Unless I am much mistaken, it will worry him. Now, you are sure you intend to take this trip?”
“Quite certain.”
“Very well. I shall give myself the pleasure of calling for you at three o’clock.”
Evelyn packed her boxes as speedily as possible. Counting her money, she found she had only twenty–five pounds. But there was that new treasure, the ring. How better could she use it than in furthering the interests of the man she loved? She wondered if Lord Fairholme would lend her fifty pounds on its security? A note brought him to her room, and she explained briefly that she meant to visit Lagos, and might need more funds than she had at her command.
“Well, that beats the band,” he said. “Mrs. Laing is going there too.”
“Not on to–day’s steamer?” she protested, for it seemed that an unkind fate was conspiring against her.
“Sure thing! Heard her tellin’ Beryl an hour ago.”
Though Evelyn wished heartily that her rival had chosen any other route of the many which lead from Las Palmas, her resolution remained unaltered. But there was another thrill in store for her.