to even try to get the money," she declared. "We
leave Newport within the hour. Antoinette is packing the trunks now. It
will be almost time to leave when I reach the hotel."

"You must ask Jay Gardiner for the money, then," he replied, doggedly,
"and instruct Antoinette to hand it to me in the reading-room, and that,
too, ere you step into your carriage."

"Is that a threat?"

She had hardly time to ask the question, ere she saw Antoinette coming
hurriedly toward her.

With a hurried, "You heard what I said; do not fail me," Victor Lamont
raised his hat, turned on his heel, and strode away.

She was racking her brains as to how she should raise the money for
Victor Lamont in a half hour's time, in order to save herself from the
exposure that would be sure to follow if she failed to do so.

She was driven to extremities. Yes, there was no other way but to borrow
it from some of the guests she knew, and this could not be accomplished
without Antoinette's assistance.

By the time the girl returned, she had made up her mind as to what
course she would pursue. To-day's work would put her forever in the
French maid's power; but there was no help for it--none whatever.

"Antoinette," she said in an unsteady voice, as soon as she had drained
the wine the maid had brought, "I am in trouble, and I want you to help
me."

"You can rely upon me, my lady," replied the girl. "I will do anything
in the world for you, and tell no one."

"You are very good," murmured her young mistress incoherently. "I--I
have lost something valuable belonging to my husband. It will take a
great deal of money to replace it, and it must be replaced at once,
before he misses it. To do this, I am obliged to borrow money until I
get my next allowance from him. There are several persons in the hotel
who would willingly loan me the money if they but knew of my
predicament. I must see one after another in that little private parlor
off the reception-room, until I have secured the amount I need. You will
bring them to me."

"I understand, my lady," nodded the maid.

Flushed, and trembling with excitement, Sally stepped down to the
private parlor, after giving Antoinette a score of names on a slip of
paper.

One by one, the clever French maid conducted the persons she had been
sent in search of to her mistress.

Each gentleman listened in surprise to the appeal young Mrs. Gardiner
made to them--she the bride of a man worth millions.

In most