Carden looked disheartened, much more so than his friend, and asked when the next steamer sailed.
"The day after to-morrow, the next fast one, so we will have a day to ourselves before we part, Fred."
Martin spoke cheerily, which caused his friend to brighten a little and ask if it would not be well to start back at once to Hanley Hall.
"No, Fred, not to-night. Perhaps I may be able to get there to-morrow if I can arrange to leave then."
The two friends separated shortly afterwards—Carden returning to Hanley Hall, where his arrival, and subsequent narration of Martin's trouble caused great sympathy.
"Surprises are becoming the usual thing here. I wonder what will come next!"
Mr. Stafford said this during a break in the conversation, but an answer came sooner than he expected, and from an unexpected quarter.
"Papa, don't you think that, under the circumstances, Fred and I should do something to help Mr. Martin out of this trouble? He has spent large sums of money, I'm sure, in recovering those papers, and doubtless in other matters."
It was Kate who spoke, and all looked at her in surprise. Not a blushing, embarrassed girl, but a calm collected woman met their gaze.
"Of course, I know nothing about these matters," continued she, "but it would seem that an immediate advance of a large sum would be likely to be of assistance."