knowledge of the packet of money had waylaid the cut-under.
Proud of my conclusion, I put the inquiry to Sir Henry as we
hurried along. If we weren't too late!

He stopped suddenly like a man brought up at the point of a
bayonet.

"My word!" He jerked the expression out through his tightened
jaws. "Has she got ninety thousand dollars of your money!" And
he set out again in his long stride. I explained briefly as I
endeavored to keep his pace. It was her own money, not mine, but
she did in fact have that large sum with her in the cut-under on
this night. I gave him the story of the matter, briefly, for I
had no breath to spare over it. And I asked him what he thought.
Had a gang of thieves attacked the cut-under?

But he only repeated his expression.

"My word! . . . You got her ninety thousand dollars and let her
drive away with no eye on her! . . . . Such trust in the honesty
of our fellow creatures! . . . My word!"

I had to admit the deplorable negligence, but I had not thought
of any peril, and I did not know that she carried the money with
her until the conversation with my sister. There was some excuse
for me. I could not remember a robbery on this island.

Marquis snapped his jaws.

"You'll remember this one!" he said.