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after that the only thing she wanted was to forget all about it.”
    â€œAnd now I suppose he’s threatening to give her away?”
    â€œHe’s got a letter of hers.” Sally lit the cigarette which she had been holding in her hand and blew out a long trail of smoke. “I don’t know exactly what’s in it, but I gather that if it ever came into the wrong hands—” She shrugged expressively. “He’s offering to sell it back to her for a thousand pounds.”
    â€œIs that all!”
    â€œI told her she ought to go to the police, but of course she wouldn’t listen to me. Her one idea is to marry Julian, and if she had the money she’d stump up like a shot. As it is, the most she can raise is five hundred.”
    â€œI see.” Ruth’s lips tightened. “And you’re to do the bargaining, I take it?”
    â€œI’ve promised to go down and see the skunk. He’s got a bungalow at Playford, and the arrangement is that she’s to meet him there on Sunday night. He’s evidently afraid of a trap, and he’s not taking any chances.”
    â€œSo that’s why you want the car?”
    â€œI had to say I’d take the job on: what else could I do? Sheila’s in a state of panic and she’d only make an unholy mess of it. I’m not the least frightened of the swine. I shall tell him that he can either bring the letter here next week and collect the five hundred or else he can hand it over to Julian and go to Hell. I’m absolutely certain it’s the right line to take—don’t you agree?”
    â€œSpeaking candidly, darling, I think you ought to be locked up.” Ruth surveyed her companion with a sort of exasperated affection. “You’re just about as hopeless as King Arthur and Don Quixote. Even if she is your sister, why the heck should you do all her dirty work for her? She’s quite old enough to look after herself, and the sooner she starts the better. It may teach her to behave more sensibly.”
    â€œI’m only keeping a promise I made to Mummy.” Sally paused. “She simply adored Sheila, but she was always terrified that something would happen to her when she grew up. I was sitting by her bed holding her hand the evening before she died, and she suddenly told me in a whisper that it was the only thing she was really worried and unhappy about. I swore faithfully that if Sheila was ever in any trouble I would do my very best to help her. I know it comforted her, because she gave a little smile and I felt her squeeze my fingers. I couldn’t go back on that, Ruth—I couldn’t possibly.”
    â€œMy dear, I wouldn’t ask you to.” The elder girl nodded understandingly. “All the same, I’m not going to let you handle this job entirely by yourself. I’m coming with you.”
    â€œOh, but you can’t, Ruth! If Sheila knew that I’d given the show away—”
    â€œHst! Look out—here’s a customer.”
    The shop door swung open, and stubbing out her cigarette, Sally jumped up hastily and stepped forward past the desk.
    â€œWe’ll talk about it later,” she whispered.

Chapter III
    With that silent efficiency that characterised all his actions Watkins deposited a couple of silver dishes upon the sideboard and then cast a final glance round the neat and perfectly appointed breakfast table. As he did so Owen turned back from the open window.
    â€œAnother grand morning,” he remarked. “More like July than September.”
    â€œVery remarkable weather indeed, sir,” agreed Watkins. “A trifle belated, if one might use the expression, but none the less agreeable for that.”
    â€œI understand you’ve been having a lousy summer in England.”
    â€œPrecisely, sir. It is the exact adjective which I should have selected myself.”
    There was a sound of whistling accompanied by approaching