, too, it
wasn't all generosity that had led you to pay Dolly's debts. Anyway, she
wouldn't talk reasonably, said she'd marry any one she pleased--oh,
quite the young lady who sent me after you with a horse whip, and I
daresay she'd have been glad to do it again last night. I spoke to
Mother. She said Sylvia hadn't said anything to her, but she added, if
Sylvia wanted him, she wouldn't oppose her. Naturally she wouldn't,
seeing only Dolly's good points, which are regularly displayed for the
benefit of the ladies. Anyway, I agreed to tell you, and you promised,
if it came to the point, you'd have some things to say to me----"

George nodded shortly.

"Yes, but I blame you for forcing me to say them. You've thrown them
together----"

"I've always wanted to help Dolly as you would any old friend who had
wandered a little to the side, and was anxious to get back on the path.
I can't figure every man that comes about the place as a suitor for
Sylvia. Let's forget all that. What are these important and unpleasant
things you have to tell me? I daresay you know where the money you
loaned Dolly went."

George pressed his lips tight. He frowned. Even now he hesitated to soil
his hands, to divide himself, perhaps, permanently from Sylvia at the
very moment of saving her; and he wasn't quite sure, in view of her
pride and her quick temper, that his very effort wouldn't defeat its own
purpose. If only Lambert hadn't made that worst of all possible
blunders. He wondered how a man felt on the rack. He bent swiftly and
picked up the telephone.

"I shall talk with Dalrymple first," he said. "I'm going to ask him to
come over here at once. I think he'll come."

But Lambert shook his head, stopped him before he could take the
receiver from the hook.

"Isn't in the office. Hasn't been back since luncheon. Left no word
then."

"Perhaps since you've come away----" George hazarded.

He telephoned, while Lambert wandered about the room, or paused to slip
through his fingers the tape that emerged like a long and listless
serpent from the now silent ticker. After a question or two George
replaced the receiver and glanced at Lambert.

"You're right. Sticks to the job, doesn't he?"

"He isn't exactly an ordinary clerk," Lambert offered.

George walked to a window. For a long time he gazed over the lower city,
turned singularly unreal by the early dusk, while it outlined itself
little by little in yellow points of light which gave t