"Five hundred pounds?" he echoes blankly.
"Yes, five hundred pounds, can you give it to me to-night? That is all I want to say to you."
"I can give you a check for that amount, which you can cash, in any of the banks in Kelvick to-morrow. Will that do?"
"Yes, that will do."
He fills in the check, signs it, and hands it to her without a word.
"Thank you," she says, huskily. "It is a big sum. I—I may be able to repay it; but I don't know when."
"Pray don't mention it. I consider the money well laid out," he says shortly.
"I understand you—oh, I understand you! The money has bought you your freedom—that is what you mean," she says, fixing her wild eyes on his face. "Any lingering spark of—of affection, of esteem, of pity you still had for me is gone now. Yes? I thought so—I thought so; but I could not help it; the pressure brought to bear on me was too strong. I could not help it! Oh, if you knew—if I could only tell you—"
"Pray don't offer any explanation. I assure you I seek none. I am quite satisfied that you wanted the money badly, or you would not have applied to me."