She dropped her eyes again to the cloth and again fidgeted with her spoon nervously. “All right,” she said with a sudden shrug, “I might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.” “Or for a good share of sixty thousand as for a miserable couple of hundred, eh?” said Barnet jovially, and beckoned the waiter. Thalia left the restaurant and turned homeward. She had to pass the bank, and it was not good policy, she thought, to hail a taxicab until she had left the neighbourhood, where Mr. Brabazon’s grave eyes might observe her extravagance. She had turned into the stream of pedestrians that thronged Regent Street at this hour when she felt a touch on her arm, and turned. A young man was walking by her side, a good-looking, keen-faced young man who did not smile ingratiatingly as others had done who had nudged her arm in Regent Street, nor did he inquire if she were going the same way as he. “Thalia!” She turned quickly at the sound of the voice, and for a second her self-possession failed her. “Mr. Beardmore!” she faltered. Jack’s face was flushed and he was obviously embarrassed. “I only wanted to speak to you for a moment. I have waited for a week for the opportunity,” he said hurriedly. “You knew I was at Brabazon’s--who told you?” He hesitated. “Inspector Parr,” he said, and when he saw the smile curl on the girl’s lips, he went on: “Old Parr isn’t a bad sort, really. He has never said another word against you, Thalia.” “Another!” she quoted, “but does it really matter? And now, Mr. Beardmore, I really must go. I have a very important engagement.” But he held fast to her hand. “Thalia, won’t you tell me why you did it?” he asked quietly. “Who is behind you?” She laughed. “There is a reason for your keeping this extraordinary company,” he went on, when she stopped him. “What extraordinary company?” she demanded. “You have just come from a restaurant,” he said. “You have been there with a man called ‘Flush’ Barnet, a notorious crook and a man who has served a term of penal servitude. The woman with you was Milly Macroy, a confederate of his who was concerned in the Darlington Co-Operative robbery and has also served a term of imprisonment. At present she is engaged at Brabazon’s Bank.” “Well?” said the girl again. “Surely you don’t know the character of these people?” urged Jack. “And how do you know them?” she asked calmly. “Am I wrong in supposing that you were not alone in your--vigil? Were you accompanied by the admirable Mr. Parr? I see you were. Why, you are almost a policeman yourself, Mr. Beardmore.” Jack was staggered. “Do you realise that it is Parr’s duty to inform your employer that you keep that kind of company?” he asked. “For heaven’s sake, Thalia, take a sane view of your position.” But she laughed.