She was shown in at once.

"I had your telegram," she began hurriedly. "What does it mean? Can you
do anything?"

Mr. Benjamin placed a chair for her, and took up his favorite position
on the hearthrug.

"I hope so, Miss Thurwell," he said quietly. "First of all, of course
you are aware that Mr. Maddison's arrest was as much of a surprise to us
as to any one. We neither had any hand in it, nor should we have dreamed
of taking any step of the sort."

"I thought it could not be you," she answered. "How do you think it came
about?"

Mr. Levy, junior, shrugged his shoulders.

"Quite in the ordinary course," he answered. "So I should think. The
police have never let the matter really drop, and I should imagine that
he had been watched for some time. How it came to pass, however, it is
not worth while discussing now. The question with you, I presume,
is--can he be saved?"

"Yes, that is it," Helen answered quietly, but with deep intensity. "Can
he be saved? Do you know anything? Can you help?"

Mr. Benjamin Levy cleared his throat, and appeared to reflect for a
moment or two. Then he turned towards Helen, and commenced speaking
earnestly.

"Look here, Miss Thurwell," he said, "your interest in this matter is,
of course, a personal one. Mine, on the other hand, is naturally a
business one. You understand that?"

She nodded.

"Yes, I understand that," she said.

"Let us put it on a business basis, then," he went on. "The question is,
what will you give us to get Mr. Maddison off? That's putting it baldly;
but we've no time to waste mincing matters."

"I will give you one--two thousand pounds, if you can do it," she said,
her voice trembling with eagerness. "Will that be enough?"

"Two thousand five hundred--the five hundred for expenses," Mr. Benjamin
said firmly. "Father, make out a paper, and Miss Thurwell will sign it."

"At once," she answered, drawing off her glove. "Mr. Levy, you have some
hope! You know something. Tell me about it, please," she begged.

"Miss Thurwell," he said, "at present I can tell you no more than this.
I really think that I shall be able in a short time to upset the whole
case against Mr. Maddison. I can't tell you more at present. Let me
have your address, and you shall hear from me."

She had signed her name to the document which Mr. Levy had drawn up, and
she now wrote her address. Mr. Benjamin copied the latter into his
pocket-book, and prepared to show his visitor out.