“‘I don’t understand what you mean, Doctor,’ he said slowly. “‘Oh, yes, you do!’ I answered. ‘You deceived Mr. Maitland all right—you didn’t deceive me. It was Tom who opened the safe—not you.’ “For a moment I thought he was going to deny it; then he gave a little mirthless laugh. “‘Perfectly correct,’ he said. ‘As you say, it was Tom who opened the safe. I caught him absolutely in the act. And then Mr. Maitland came.’ “‘But—good God!’ I cried, ‘what an unutterable young waster he must be to let you shoulder the blame!’ “Digby faced me steadily. ‘I made him. You see, I saw it was the chance I had been looking for.’ “‘You mean you told him about your heart?’ “‘No,’ he answered quietly. ‘But I told him I was entangled with another woman, and that the best way of saving his sister’s feelings was to let her think——’ “And then the boy broke down utterly. With his hands on my shoulders he stood there facing me, and he made me swear I wouldn’t tell the girl. “‘She must never know, Doctor. I’ve done it for her. She must never know.’ “And even as he spoke, the words died away on his lips, and he stood motionless, staring past me at the door. Without looking round I knew what had happened—I could smell the faint scent she used. “‘What have you done for me, Jack, and why must I never know?’ “She came steadily up to him, and his hands fell to his side. “‘Why, you’ve been crying, dear,’ she said. ‘What’s the matter?’ “True to his purpose, he started some fantastic story about sorrow at having been found out, but she cut him short. “‘Don’t lie, Jack—not now,’ she whispered. ‘I know it wasn’t you who opened the safe. I know it was Tom. But what I want to know is why you said you did it.’ “It was then I made up my mind. “‘I’m going to tell her, Digby, whether you like it or not,’ and she looked at me quickly. He didn’t say anything; things had got beyond him. And very briefly I told her the truth about his heart. “She listened to me in absolute silence, and when I’d finished she just turned round to him and held out both her arms. “‘Thank God! I know, my darling,’ she whispered. ‘I thought it was because you’d got fond of another woman. I thought—oh! Heaven knows what I thought! But now—oh! you stupid, wonderful boy!’ “I went to the window and looked out! It must have been five minutes later that I found the girl at my side. “‘Is it absolutely hopeless?’ she asked. “‘Humanly speaking,’ I answered, ‘yes.’ “‘How long?’ and she put her hand on my arm. “‘Two days; two months; at the utmost, two years,’ I said gravely. “‘And why shouldn’t I look after him for those two years?’ she demanded fiercely. “‘I’m thinking of a possible child,’ I said quietly, and she began to tremble a little. “‘That’s ridiculous,’ she cried—‘quite ridiculous.’” The Doctor was carefully cleaning out the bowl of his pipe. “In the morning Jack Digby had gone, leaving behind him a note for her. She showed it to me later.