"Turning quickly, I beheld, to my utter dismay, the gentleman from New York to whom I owed that large sum of money I told you about. "'I was here in time to take in the ball last night,' he went on. 'I came on particularly to see you. You were having such a good time dancing, with that pretty little creature in white that I did not disturb you by letting you know of my presence; but after the ball you suddenly disappeared, and I have been waiting in this office for you, expecting you to appear every moment. I could not wait a moment longer than was absolutely necessary, my business with you is so imperative.' "To make a long story short, Mrs. Gardiner--Sally--he informed me that he should be obliged to draw upon me at once for money I owed him; in fact, that he _must_ have it to-day." "Oh, what will you do, Mr. Lamont?" cried Sally, sympathetically. "What in the world will you do--what will you say?" "That is just the trouble--what shall I do--what can I say to him? He is a man of iron will and terrible temper. He knows, he has learned through my bankers in New York, that I drew out every cent I had in their bank to pay him. How am I to face him, and tell him that it is gone? I know full well he will have me arrested, and the coachman will be brought forward who drove me up to the door, and then the whole story will leak out." "Oh! oh! oh!" cried Sally, standing quite still on the sands, wringing her hands and commencing to cry, "if that story comes out, I am ruined. Jay Gardiner will leave me, and I will be a beggar!" "Just so," returned Victor Lamont, softly. "We must make every effort to keep the matter quiet, and there is but one way out of the tangle--only one." "And what is that?" cried Sally. "You must save me, and in doing so, save yourself. Sally--Mrs. Gardiner," he whispered, rapidly, "you must help me raise money somehow to meet this man's demands." "But I haven't any money!" moaned Sally. "I have spent the money my husband gave me--spent it long ago!" "You must get it somehow," he declared, hoarsely. "Borrow it from some of the husbands of your lady friends, and tell them not to let Jay Gardiner know. You are a woman of wealth and influence; you can easily raise the money I want--and _you must do it_!" "I shall not have time to even try to get the money," she declared. "We leave Newport within the hour. Antoinette is packing the trunks now. It will be almost time to leave when I reach the hotel." "You must ask Jay Gardiner for the money, then," he replied, doggedly, "and instruct Antoinette to hand it to me in the reading-room, and that, too, ere you step into your carriage." "Is that a threat?" She had hardly time to ask the question, ere she saw Antoinette coming hurriedly toward her. With a hurried, "You heard what I said; do not fail me," Victor Lamont raised his hat, turned on his heel, and strode away.