Pulling up the blind she glanced quickly round the room. The ticket still lay where she had dropped it; Cyril had evidently not been down. By a quarter to 9 he made his appearance. "Now Helen hurry up with the tea!" he cried "it is getting late." "That's no fault of mine" replied Helen quietly "time will fly you know." "Who said it would'nt?" asked Cyril snappishly, sitting down in the grumps. "Why on earth does'nt Marshland send up the silver tea pot?" asked Helen artfully "I hate this old brown china concern; I'll ring for the other; and the sugar bowl too." "No, no please dont," cried Cyril nervously "I really cant wait." "Well if it is'nt sent up tonight I shall make a row about it" replied Helen crossly "I cant bear keeping the silver for special occasions." Cyril did not notice the ticket so Helen went and picked it up, "what's this?" she asked curiously. "What's what?" asked Cyril turning sharply round. "This little card" said Helen. "Oh that's mine" replied Cyril "I'll put it in my pocket if you give it here." Helen handed it over, "it looks exactly like a pawn ticket does'nt it?" she asked. "Yes, its not unlike one" replied Cyril. "No not at all" said Helen, "in fact when I read it yesterday, I thought it was uncommonly like one." Cyril turned a ghastly white and flew into the hall to get his hat. "Ha ha my dear" thought Helen "I've found out your little game," but never the less she followed him innocently into the hall, "dear Cyril" she exclaimed "I hope my thinking that ticket like a pawn one has not upset you; of course it is awfully foolish of me I know." "Yes I know it is" replied Cyril cooly, "I may say more than foolish." Helen laughed "you wont be so late today I presume," she said. "No I dont think so" said Cyril, "I may be home by three o'clock today." "Very well" replied Helen "dont hurry on my account, and with a giggle she opened the door and watched Cyril safely down the street, "yes my boy" she thought I dare say I'm cleverer than you take me for, any how I know where you're off to now and I wish you luck" and with a sigh Helen entered the office. "Netherby" she cried "a word with you if you please." The clerk shuffled quickly to his feet and followed Helen into the passage. "Now look here" said Helen firmly "did Mr. Sheene ask if any ladies entered the office yesterday." Netherby looked uneasily at the floor and kicked up the oil cloth. "Speak up" cried Helen loudly, "and dont tear my carpets please." "Well miss" said Netherby nervously "he did mention something of the kind last night." "Oh he did, did he" screamed Helen "and what did you say?" "Well miss I did'nt tell a story" said Netherby "I said not that I knew of because you see miss, I did'nt look to see if you let the lady in or not after I went into the office." "Thank you Netherby" said Helen "you have done me a great service, "and she pressed a sovereign into the trembling hand of the clerk.