"Good morning Miss Winston" he cried totally ignoring his future wife, "if you have any brains they ought to tell you what I am here about. Before Helen had time to reply Gladys stepped forward and laying her hand on Mr. Palsey's arm looked in his face steadily and said. "James, I dont know what you intend saying but I am sure it is cruel and cutting and I beg and pray of you to keep quiet whatever it is. Helen is, as you know in great trouble about her dear father, and added to that, a robbery has been commited in the night, which has deprived her of all the money which had been left her and so she has now to earn her own living----" "Hold" cried Cyril suddenly turning round, "I have already heard of this terrible robbery and though I have to grovell in the very ground, Helen shall never have to earn her own living, in the presence of everyone here I repeat my words. I intend as soon as possible to take Helen to London and marry her on the first opportunity which presents itself; I have" he added, "though no one may know it, a private bussiness in Holburn, which consists of a small office in which I employ two clerks, my living appartments are at the back of this office or (home affair) as I generally call it, and mark my words all of you here Helen would lead a very happy life, and if my bussiness should prosper I will go and live in Paris or Rome if Helen should prefer it." "Thank you Cyril" said Helen, "I will spend one more week here to collect my belongings and then only too gladly will I go with you to your office. I have only one request to make." "What is that?" asked Cyril. "A very simple one" replied Helen "only that Marshland should come with us and be our servant." "Certainly," answered Cyril. "I shall be only too pleased, for the one servant I have is just leaving and I am sure Marshland will suit." "Pardon me" said Mr. Palsey "I think Cyril, if you take my advice you will leave this wicked interfeering old woman behind I warn you she will be the plague of your life, for I myself have had experience of what she can do poking her nose into people's rooms, the meddling old cat." "Mr. Palsey" said Helen calmly and with great dignity "perhaps you will allow Cyril to settle this matter, and if you will allow me to add, I would far rather be a meddling old cat, than a cruel hard hearted person who could murder a good innocent man for the sake of his money, and then could look the daughter of that man in the face with a cold unflinching gaze." Gladys uttered a low scream and staggered towards the door; she is loosing her head she sobbed, "going mad, and all through you James." For Gladys knew nothing of Helen's suspicions. "No Gladys" replied Helen, "dont cry, for I am not loosing my head or going mad either, and you have my utmost pity for having a husband such as he." But nothing could soothe poor Gladys and as Helen stooped to comfort her, Mr. Palsey took the opportunity of speaking to Cyril.