"I won't help you there; our alliance is only on the subject of frocks." But how well she knew what Anna meant and felt! And now she was a trifle uneasy. Had any of that talk filtered through leaky Selford conversations to Anna's eagerly listening ears? "Mamma once told me he'd been very, very wild." "Stuff! They always say that about a man if he's a bachelor. Sheer feminine spite, in my belief, Anna!" "What did you go to see him about? Oh, is it a secret?" Christine was really rather glad to hear the question. It showed that nothing very much of the talk had filtered. And she had her story ready. "Oh, about a horse. You know we've had to sell our bays, and he's got one that we thought we could buy cheap. John was so busy that I went. But, alas, it's beyond us, after all." "Yes, you told me you'd sold a pair." Anna nodded significantly. Christine smiled. She was reflecting how many crises of life demand a departure from veracity, and what art resides in the choice of a lie. She had chosen one which, implying that Anna was in her confidence, pleased and quieted that young woman, and sent her off home without any suspicions as to the visit or its connection with the financial crisis otherwise than through the horses. She did not ask Anna in to tea, because John would be there, home early from the City, waiting. Now that the thing was done, she was minded to make as light of it as possible. Since she had been compelled to go, let John forget under what pressure and how unwillingly she had gone. Thus the faintest breath of suspicion would be less likely to rest on her secret. She trusted to her self-control; she would chaff him a little before she told him of the success of her mission. But the first sight of his face drove the idea out of her head. It might be safer for her; it would actually be not safe for him. She was convinced of this when she saw the strain in his eyes and how his whole figure seemed in a tension of excitement. She closed the door carefully behind her. "Well," he cried, "what news? By God, I've been able to do no work! I haven't been able to think of anything else all day. Don't--don't say you've failed!" "No," she said, opening her purse, "I haven't failed. Here's a cheque from Lord Caylesham. It's post-dated, but only a day or two. That doesn't matter?" She came to him and gave him the cheque. He put it on the table and rested his head on his arm. He seemed almost dazed; the stiffness had gone out of his body. "By Jove, he's a good sort! By Jove, he is a good sort!" he murmured. "He was very kind indeed. He made no difficulties. He said he was sure he could trust you, and was glad to help you. And he sent his remembrances and good luck to you, John." She had taken off her fur coat and her hat as she was speaking, and now sank down into a chair.