"I don't understand."
Jill hesitated. She disliked discussing her private affairs, but there was obviously no way of avoiding it. Nelly was round-eyed and mystified, and Mr. Brown had manifestly no intention whatever of withdrawing tactfully. He wanted to hear all.
"I've lost my money," said Jill.
"Lost your money! Do you mean...?"
"I've lost it all. Every penny I had in the world."
"Tough!" interpolated Mr. Brown judicially. "I was broke once way out in a tank-town in Oklahoma. The manager skipped with our salaries. Last we saw of him he was doing the trip to Canada in nothing flat."
"But how?" gasped Nelly.
"It happened about the time we met in London. Do you remember Freddie Rooke, who was at our house that afternoon?"
A dreamy look came into Nelly's eyes. There had not been an hour since their parting when she had not thought of that immaculate sportsman. It would have amazed Freddie, could he have known, but to Nelly Bryant he was the one perfect man in an imperfect world.
"Do I!" she sighed ecstatically.