aid Ronnie. "He, a prisoner; and we, all marching away!
But I remember now, we always suspected prisoners had been taken at
Targai. And positive proofs of Lord Ingleby's death were difficult
to--well, don't you know--to find. I mean--there couldn't be a funeral.
We had to conclude it, because we believed him to have been right inside
the tunnel. He must have got clear after all, before Airth sent the
flash, and getting in with the first rush, been unable to return. Of
course he has reached Cairo with no money and no means of getting home.
And the chaps who helped him, will stick to him like leeches till they
get their pay. What shall you do about cabling?"

Lady Ingleby seemed to collect her thoughts with difficulty.

"Of course the money must be sent--and sent at once," she said. "Oh,
Ronnie, _could_ you go up to town about it, for me? I would give you a
cheque, and a note to my bankers; they will know how to cable it through.
Could you, Ronnie? Michael must not be kept waiting; yet I must stay here
to tell Jim. It never struck me that I might have gone up to town myself;
and now I have wired to Jim to come down here. Oh, my dear Ronnie, could
you?"

"Of course I could," said Ronald, cheerfully. "The motor is at the door.
I can catch the two-thirty, if you write the note at once. No need for a
cheque. Just write a few lines authorising your bankers to send out the
money; I will see them personally; explain the whole thing, and hurry
them up. The money shall be in Cairo to-night, if possible."

Lady Ingleby went to her davenport.

No sound broke the stillness save the rapid scratching of her pen.

Then Billy spoke. "I will come with you," he said, hoarsely.

"Why do that?" objected Ronald. "You may as well go on in the motor to
Overdene, and tell them there."

"I am going to town," said Billy, decidedly. Then he walked over to where
the telegram still lay on the table. "May I copy this?" he asked of Lady
Ingleby.

"Do," she said, without looking round.

"And Ronnie--you take the original to show them at the bank. Ah, no! I
must keep that for Jim. Here is paper. Make two copies, Billy."

Billy had already copied the message into his pocket-book. With shaking
fingers he copied it again, handing the sheet to Ronald, without looking
at him.

The note written, Lady Ingleby rose.

"Thank you, Ronald," she said. "Thank you, more than I can say. I think
you will catch the train. And good-bye, Billy."

But Billy