--bad egg, that Beaumaroy!' No, I don't care. My old
man's safe; I've won my big game after all, Doctor Mary!"

"I don't believe you cared about the money really!" she cried. "That
really was a game to you, I think, a trick you liked to play on us
respectables!"

He smiled at her confidentially. "I do like beating the respectables," he
admitted. Then he looked at his watch. "I must do what has to be done for
the old man. But it's late--hard on one o'clock. You must be tired--and
it's a sad job."

"No, I'll help you. I--I've been in hospitals, you know. Only do go
first, and cover up that horrible place, and hide that wretched money
before I go into the Tower. Will you?" She gave a shiver, as her
imagination renewed the scene which the Tower held.

"You needn't come into the Tower at all. He's as light as a feather--I've
lifted him into bed often. I can lift him now. If you really wish to
help, will you go up to his room, and get things ready?" As he spoke, he
crossed to the sideboard, took up a bedroom candlestick, and lighted it
from one that stood on the table. "And you'll see about the body being
taken to the mortuary, won't you? I shall communicate with the
Radbolts--fully; they'll take charge of the funeral, I suppose. Well, he
won't know anything about that now, thank God!" There was the slightest
tremor in his voice as he spoke.

Mary did not take the candle. "I've said some hard things to you, Mr.
Beaumaroy. I dare say I've sounded very self-righteous." He raised his
hand in protest, but she went on: "So I should like to say one different
thing to you, since we're to part after to-night. You've shown yourself a
good friend, good and true as a man could have."

"I loved my old man," said Beaumaroy.

It was his only plea. To Mary it seemed a good one. He had loved his poor
old madman; and he had served him faithfully. "Yes, the old man found a
good friend in you; I hope you will find good friends too. Oh, I do hope
it! Because that's what you want."

"I should be very glad if I could think that, in spite of everything, I
had found one here in this place--even although she can be a friend only
in memory."

Mary paused for a moment, then gave him her hand. "I know you much
better after tonight. My memory of you will be a kind one. Now to
our work!"

"Yes--and thank you. I thank you more deeply than you imagine."

He gave her the candle and followed her to the passage.

"You know where the room is. I s