“Oh, yes, I promise; but don’t look at me with such queer eyes; you make me frightened.” “You have no cause to be frightened; go to sleep again.” Meanwhile Pelham, hailing a hansom, drove straight to his chambers in Temple Court. He entered his sitting-room, and then started back with an impatient exclamation. Tarbot was standing on the hearth. “I am sorry you cannot give me a welcome, Pelham,” said the other man. He came forward as he spoke, and held out his hand. “Have you been to see little Sir Piers?” “Yes,” answered Pelham. “What did you think of him?” “He seems very weak. I don’t much like his state.” “Oh, we’ll pull him through,” said Tarbot, speaking in a cheerful tone. “I am glad you went to see him; he has taken a great fancy to you.” “We were always the best of chums,” said Pelham shortly. “Take a chair, won’t you? Can I do anything?” “That’s a civil way of asking why I take the liberty of calling. The fact is, I have come on a matter of great importance.” Pelham remained motionless. He had not seated himself, but stood on the hearth where Tarbot had stood a minute or two before. His blue eyes were fixed upon Luke Tarbot’s face. The surgeon gazed straight up at the young man. “So you are engaged to Barbara Evershed,” Tarbot said abruptly. “Yes; but how do you know?” Pelham’s face was crimson. “You are engaged to the girl I meant to marry. You must forgive me if I fail to congratulate you.” Pelham’s blue eyes wore a stormy expression. “This is an awful blow to me, but all the same, for the sake of the girl, I want to help you. I know more about Mrs. Evershed than you have any idea of. She is in serious difficulties. Although you are engaged to Miss Evershed, you have not a chance of marrying her, because you are a poor man. Miss Evershed, as far as I can make out, will not allow the engagement to become public. That is an awkward thing for you. You would like to have everything straight and above board, would you not?” “That goes without saying,” answered Dick. “But excuse me, Dr. Tarbot, I can scarcely understand——” “My object in taking any trouble in the matter?” continued Tarbot. “It never occurred to you, did it, that there might be such a thing as disinterested love?” “You are not the man to do anything noble without an object.” “You are unfair to me, Pelham, and I shall prove to you that you are in the wrong. Mrs. Evershed’s difficulties are most serious. Between her and ruin there is but a step. Now, it so happens that I can help her.” “You can help her—how?” “By the loan of a sufficient sum of money to put her straight with her creditors for a considerable time.” “Then for Heaven’s sake do it, Tarbot. It would be a generous action.” “And why, according to your own showing, should Luke Tarbot be the man to do a generous action?” asked the doctor. Again Pelham was silent. Tarbot took a step forward. Pelham looked him full in the eyes.