"Oh, don't say that! We're always friends, always friends. But suppose you do insist on 'hating' to come--well, why have you come?" She looked at him now. "I couldn't help it. I refused at first, but I--I had no reason to give if I'd gone on refusing. He'd have--suspected." "Ah!" The explanation drew an understanding nod from him. "So I came. He's sent me to borrow money from you." "To borrow money? What, is John----?" "Yes, he's in great difficulties. He wants a lot of money at once." "But why didn't he come himself? It's rather odd to----" "I suppose he hated it too. He has done it once. I mean, he's been to Grantley Imason. And--and he thought--you'd be more likely to do it if I asked." "Did he? Does that mean----?" "No, no, not in the least. He only thought you were--that you liked pretty women." She held out a piece of paper. "He's put it all down there. I think I'd better give it to you. It says what he wants, and when he must have it, and how he'll pay it back. I promised to tell you all that, but you'd better read it for yourself." He took the paper from her and studied it. She looked round the room, which she had known very well. It was quite unchanged. Then she watched him while he read. He had grown older, but he had not lost his attractiveness. For a moment or two she forgot the present state of things. "Fifteen thousand! It's a bit of money!" This remark recalled Christine's thoughts. "Has Imason lent him that?" "Yes, on the same terms that he suggests there." "Well, Imason's a good fellow, but he's a banker, and--well, I should think he expects to get it back. I say, John's been having a bit of a plunge, eh? Consequently he's in deep water now? Is he very much cut up?" "Terribly! It means ruin, and the loss of his reputation, and--oh, I don't know what besides!" "Poor old John! He's a good chap, isn't he?" She made no answer to that, and he muttered: "Fifteen thousand!" "Frank," she said, "I've done what I had to do, what I promised to. I've shown you the paper; I've told you how much this money means to us; I've told you it means avoiding ruin and bankruptcy and all that disgrace. That's what John made me promise to tell you, and its all I have to tell you from him. I've done what I said I would on his behalf." "Yes, yes, that's all right. Don't distress yourself, Christine. I just want to have another look at this paper, and to think it over a little. It is a goodish bit of money, you know. But then old John's always been a good friend of mine, and if times weren't so uncommon bad----" He wrinkled his brow over the paper again. "And now I have to speak on my own account. Frank, you must find some good, some plausible, reason for refusing. You mustn't lend John the money." "Hallo?" He looked up from the paper in great surprise. "You see, John doesn't know the truth," she answered. He rose and stood by the fire, looking down on her thoughtfully.