ope, feverishly searching. It contained a
cigarette--one of her own--that had been half-smoked. She stared
at it for a second or two in wonder, then like a stab came the
memory of that night--so long ago--when he had taken the cigarette
from between her lips, when he had been on the verge of speech,
when she had stood waiting to hear . . . and Guy had come between.

Many seconds later she put the envelope back, and got up.
Conviction had come irresistibly upon her; she knew now whose hand
had oiled the lock, she knew beyond all doubting who had opened the
box, and left it thus.

She was trembling no longer, but steady--firm as a rock. She must
find Guy. Wherever he was, she must find him. That money--her own
sacred charge--must be returned before she faced Burke again. Guy
was mad. She must save him from his madness. This fight for Guy's
soul--she had seen it coming. She realized it as a hand to hand
fight with Kieff. But she would win. She was bound to win. So
she told herself. No power of evil could possibly triumph
ultimately, and she knew that deep in his inmost heart Guy
acknowledged this. However wild and reckless his words, he did not
really expect to see her waver. He might be the slave of evil
himself, but he knew that she would never share his slavery. He
knew it, and in spite of himself he honoured her. She believed he
would always honour her. And this was the weapon on which she
counted for his deliverance, this and the old sweet friendship
between them that was infinitely more enduring than first love.
She believed that her influence over him was greater than Kieff's.
Otherwise she had not dared to pit her strength against that of the
enemy. Otherwise she had waited to beg the help of Kelly, who
always helped everyone.

The thought of Burke she put resolutely from her. Burke should
never know, if she could prevent it, how low Guy had fallen. If
only she could save Guy from that, she believed she might save him
from all. When once his eyes were opened, when once she had beaten
down Kieff's ascendancy, the battle would be won. But she must act
immediately and with decision. There was not a moment to lose. If
Guy were not checked now, at the very outset, there would be no
saving him from the abyss. She must find him now, at once. And
she must do it alone. There was no alternative to that. Only
alone could she hope to influence him.

She stooped and locked the box once more,