new-born curiosity. Augusta was not accustomed to find knights-errant
thus prepared, at such cost to themselves, to break a lance in her cause.
Least of all was she prepared to find that knight bearing the hateful
crest of Meeson--if, indeed, Meeson had a crest.

"I ought to apologise," she went on presently, after an awkward pause,
"for making such a scene in the office, but I wanted money so dreadfully,
and it was so hard to be refused. But it does not matter now. It is all
done with."

There was a dull, hopeless ring about her voice that awoke his
curiosity. For what could she have wanted the money, and why did she no
longer want it?

"I am sorry," he said. "Will you tell me what you wanted it so much for?"

She looked at him, and then, acting upon impulse rather then reflection,
said in a low voice,

"If you like, I will show you."

He bowed, wondering what was coming next. Rising from her chair, Augusta
led the way to a door which opened out of the sitting-room, and gently
turned the handle and entered. Eustace followed her. The room was a small
bed-room, of which the faded calico blind had been pulled down; as it
happened, however, the sunlight, such as it was, beat full upon the
blind, and came through it in yellow bars. They fell upon the furniture
of the bare little room, they fell upon the iron bedstead, and upon
something lying on it, which he did not at first notice, because it was
covered with a sheet.