pounds merely as a further beginning.

And then he could not but reflect how much had been said at the
interview about money--about money for her, and how very little had been
said as to the assistance to be given--as to the return to be made for
the money. No plan had been laid down, no times fixed, no facilities for
making love suggested to him. He had simply paid over his twenty pounds,
and been desired to bring another fifty. The other fifty he was to take
to Mount Street on the morrow. What if she were to require fifty pounds
every day, and declare that she could not stir in the matter for less?
Doodles, no doubt, had told him that these first-class Russian spies did
well the work for which they were paid; and no doubt, if paid according
to her own tariff, Madam Gordeloup would work well for him; but such a
tariff as that was altogether beyond his means! It would be imperatively
necessary that he should come to some distinct settlement with her as to
price. The twenty pounds, of course, were gone; but would it not be
better that he should come to some final understanding with her before
he gave her the further fifty? But then, as he thought of this, he was
aware that she was too clever to allow him to do as he desired. If he
went into that room with the fifty pounds in his pockets, or in his
glove, or, indeed, anywhere about his person, she would have it from
him, let his own resolution to make a previous bargain be what it might.
His respect for the woman rose almost to veneration, but with the
veneration was mixed a strong feeling of fear.

But, in spite of all this, he did venture to triumph a little when he
met Doodles at the club. He had employed the Russian spy, and had paid
her twenty pounds, and was enrolled in the corps of diplomatic and
mysterious personages, who do their work by mysterious agencies. He did
not tell Doodles anything about the glove, or the way in which the money
was taken from him; but he did say that he was to see the spy again
to-morrow, and that he intended to take with him another present of
fifty pounds.

"By George, Clavey, you are going it." said Doodles, in a voice that was
delightfully envious to the ears of Captain Archie. When he heard that
envious tone he felt that he was entitled to be triumphant.

Chapter XXIX

What Would Men Say To You?

"Harry, tell me the truth--tell me all the truth." Harry Clavering was
thus greeted when, in obedience to the summons from