her way through a crowd of men idling in the
entrance, and one or two accosted her, but she went by them in
stony unresponsiveness.

At the little office at the end she found a girl, sandy-haired and
sandy-eyed, who looked up for a moment from a great book in front
of her, and before she could speak, said briskly, "There's no more
accommodation here. The place is full to overflowing. Better try
at the Good Hope over the way."

She had returned to her occupation before the words were well
uttered, but Sylvia stood motionless, a little giddy, leaning
against the woodwork for support.

"I only want to know," she said, after a moment, speaking with an
effort in a voice that sounded oddly muffled even to herself, "if
Mr. Ranger is here."

"Who?" The girl looked up sharply. "Hullo!" she said. "What's the
matter?"

"If Mr. Ranger--Mr. Ranger--is here," Sylvia repeated through a
curious mist that had gathered unaccountably around her.

The girl got up and came to her. "Yes, he's here, I believe, or
will be presently. He's engaged a room anyhow. I didn't see him
myself. Look here, you'd better come and sit down a minute. I
seem to remember you. You're Mrs. Ranger, aren't you?"

"Yes," said Sylvia.

She was past explanation just then, and that simple affirmative
seemed her only course. She leaned thankfully upon the supporting
arm, fighting blindly to retain her senses.

"Come and sit down!" the girl repeated. "I expect he'll be in
before long. They're all mad about this diamond draw. The whole
town is buzzing with it. The races aren't in it. Sit down and
I'll get you something."

She drew Sylvia into a small inner sanctum and there left her,
sitting exhausted in a wooden armchair. She returned presently
with a tray which she set in front of her, observing practically,
"That's what you're wanting. Have a good feed, and when you've
done you'd better go up and lie down till he comes."

She went back to her office then, closing the door between, and
Sylvia was left to recover as best she might. She forced herself
after a time to eat and drink, reflecting that physical weakness
would utterly unfit her for the task before her. She hoped with
all her heart that Guy would come soon--soon. There was a night
train back to Ritzen. She had ascertained that at the station.
They might catch that. The diamond draw was still two days away.
She prayed that he had not yet staked anything upon it, that when