money. When
your sister offered it, it certainly seemed a wonderful stroke of
fortune. I could give her eight or ten per cent, whereas she would only
get four anywhere else, and I should make a profit for myself of over
ten thousand pounds, which I cannot do unless I find the money to buy
the estate."

"But you mustn't touch that money, you mustn't have anything to do with
it!" Beatrice exclaimed, walking very fast and looking straight ahead.
"You don't understand. How should you?"

"Do you mean that the money was stolen?" Tavernake asked, after a
moment's pause.

"No, not stolen," Beatrice replied, "but it comes--oh! I can't tell you,
only Elizabeth has no right to it. My own sister! It is all too awful!"

"Do you think that she has come by this money dishonestly?"

"I am not sure," Beatrice murmured. "There are worse things, more
terrible things even than theft."

The practical side of Tavernake's nature was very much to the fore
that morning. He began to wonder whether women, after all, strange and
fascinating creatures though they were, possessed judgment which could
be relied upon--whether they were not swayed too much by sentiment.

"Beatrice," he said, "you must understand this. I have no time to raise
the money elsewhere. If I don't get it from your sister, supposing she
is still willing to let me have it, my chance has gone. I shall have to
take a situation in some one else's office as a clerk--probably not so
good a place as I held at Dowling & Spence's. On the other hand, the use
of that money for a very short time would be the start of my career. All
that you say is so vague. Why need I know anything about it? I met your
sister in the ordinary way of business and she has made an ordinary
business proposition to me, one by which she will be, incidentally, very
greatly benefited. I never thought of telling you this at all, but when
the time came I hated to go and draw that money from your sister without
having said anything to you. So I came this morning, but I want you, if
you possibly can, to look at the matter from my point of view."

She was silent for several moments. Then she glanced at him curiously.

"Why on earth," she asked, "should my sister make this offer to you? She
isn't a fool. She doesn't usually trust strangers."

"She trusted me, apparently," Tavernake answered.

"Can you understand why?" Beatrice demanded.

"I think that I can," he replied. "If one can rely upon one's
percept