“You’d only fuss. He’s much better by himself. He’ll just brood over it till his mind is exhausted, and then things will get better,”
Miss Ley smiled at the scorn with which he refused her suggestion, and waited for him to go on.
“Look here, I want you to lend me some money. Will you pay two hundred and fifty pounds into my bank this morning?”
“Of course I will,” she answered, delighted to be asked.
She went to her desk to get a cheque-book, while Frank looked at her with a little smile.
“Don’t you want to know what it’s for?”
“Not unless you wish to tell me.”
“You brick!”
He shook her hand warmly, and glancing at his watch, bolted off to Waterloo. When he arrived at River Gardens, Fanny, the servant, who opened the door, told him that James Bush was waiting to see him. She said he had been telling her all he meant to do to ruin Basil, and had been through the house to find papers and letters. Frank congratulated himself on the caution with which he had locked up everything. He walked upstairs softly, and opening the door, found James trying various keys on the writing-table. He started away when Frank entered, but quickly recovered his coolness.
“Why are all these drawers locked up?” he asked impudently.