They shook hands, and Wrayford moved toward the door.

"I say, Austin--stop a minute!" his host called after him. Wrayford
turned, and the two men faced each other across the hearth-rug.
Stilling's eyes shifted uneasily.

"There's one thing more you can do for me before you leave. Tell Isabel
about that loan; explain to her that she's got to sign a note for it."

Wrayford, in his turn, flushed slightly. "You want me to tell her?"

"Hang it! I'm soft-hearted--that's the worst of me."

Stilling moved toward the tray, and lifted the brandy decanter. "And
she'll take it better from you; she'll _have_ to take it from you. She's
proud. You can take her out for a row to-morrow morning--look here, take
her out in the motor-launch if you like. I meant to have a spin in it
myself; but if you'll tell her--"

Wrayford hesitated. "All right, I'll tell her."

"Thanks a lot, my dear fellow. And you'll make her see it wasn't my
fault, eh? Women are awfully vague about money, and she'll think it's
all right if you back me up."

Wrayford nodded. "As you please."

"And, Austin--there's just one more thing. You needn't say anything to
Isabel about the other business--I mean about my mother's securities."

"Ah?" said Wrayford, pausing.

Stilling shifted from one foot to the other. "I'd rather put that to
the old lady myself. I can make it clear to her. She idolizes me,
you know--and, hang it! I've got a good record. Up to now, I mean. My
mother's been in clover since I married; I may say she's been my first
thought. And I don't want her to hear of this beastly business from
Isabel. Isabel's a little harsh at times--and of course this isn't going
to make her any easier to live with."

"Very well," said Wrayford.

Stilling, with a look of relief, walked toward the window which opened
on the terrace. "Gad! what a queer night! Hot as the kitchen-range.
Shouldn't wonder if we had a squall before morning. I wonder if that
infernal skipper took in the launch's awnings before he went home."

Wrayford stopped with his hand on the door. "Yes, I saw him do it. She's
shipshape for the night."

"Good! That saves me a run down to the shore."

"Good night, then," said Wrayford.

"Good night, old man. You'll tell her?"

"I'll tell her."

"And mum about my mother!" his host called after him.

II

The darkness had thinned a little when Wrayford scrambled down the steep
path to the shore. Though the air was heavy the threat