drey,
naturally enough, would like Sutherland to join him in starting a
company; the thoughts of such men run only on companies. So he offers,
if I will go out to the Bahamas for a month or two, and look about me,
and put myself in a position to make some kind of report--he offers to
pay my expenses. Of course if the idea came to anything, and a company
got floated, I should have shares.'

Again he paused. The listener had wide, miserable eyes.

'Well, I told him at once that I would accept the proposal. I have no
right to refuse. All I possess in the world, at this moment, is about
sixty pounds. If I sold all my books and furniture, they might bring
another sixty or so. What, then, is to become of me? I must set to work
at something, and here's the first work that comes to hand. But,' his
voice softened, 'this puts us face to face with a very grave question;
doesn't it? Are we to relinquish your money, and be both of us
penniless? Or is there any possibility of saving it?'

'How _can_ we? How could the secret be kept?'

Voice and countenance joined in utter dismay.

'It doesn't seem to me,' said Tarrant slowly, 'a downright
impossibility. It _might_ be managed, with the help of your friend Mary,
and granting that you yourself have the courage. But'--he made a large
gesture--'of course I can't exact any such thing of you. It must seem
practicable to you yourself.'

'What are we to do if my money is lost?'

'Don't say _we_.' He smiled generously, perhaps too generously. 'A man
must support his wife. I shall arrange it somehow, of course, so that
_you_ have no anxiety. But--'

His voice dropped.

'Lionel!' She sprang up and approached him as he stood by the fireplace.
'You won't leave me, dear? How can you think of going so far away--for
months--and leaving me as I am now? Oh, you won't leave me!'

He arched his eyebrows, and smiled gently.

'If that's how you look at it--well, I must stay.'

'You can do something here,' Nancy continued, with rapid pleading. 'You
can write for the papers. You always said you could--yes, you did
say so. We don't need very much to live upon--at first. I shall be
content--'

'A moment. You mean that the money must be abandoned.'

She had meant it, but under his look her confused thoughts took a new
direction.

'No. We needn't lose it. Only stay near me, and I will keep the secret,
through everything. You will only need, then, just to support yourself,
and that is so easy.