She gave him a glance. It seemed to her that whatever it was, his presence would help her to bear it. 'Do you wish to see me alone, Bobbie?' 'I've already told Dick and Mrs. Crowley.' 'What is it?' she asked. Bobbie gave Dick an appealing look. It seemed too hard that he should have to break the awful news to her. He had not the heart to give her so much pain. And yet he had hurried down to the country so that he might soften the blow by his words: he would not trust to the callous cruelty of a telegram. Dick saw the agitation which made his good-humoured mouth twitch with pain, and stepped forward. 'Your father has been arrested for fraud,' he said gravely. For a moment no one spoke. The silence was intolerable to Mrs. Crowley, and she inveighed inwardly against the British stolidity. She could not look at Lucy, but the others, full of sympathy, kept their eyes upon her. Mrs. Crowley wondered why she did not faint. It seemed to Lucy that an icy hand clutched her heart so that the blood was squeezed out of it. She made a determined effort to keep her clearness of mind. 'It's impossible,' she said at last, quietly. 'He was arrested last night, and brought up at Bow Street Police Court this morning. He was remanded for a week.' Lucy felt the tears well up to her eyes, but with all her strength she forced them back. She collected her thoughts. 'It was very good of you to come down and tell me,' she said to Boulger gently. 'The magistrate agreed to accept bail in five thousand pounds. Aunt Alice and I have managed it between us.' 'Is he staying with Aunt Alice now?' 'No, he wouldn't do that. He's gone to his flat in Shaftesbury Avenue.' Lucy's thoughts went to the lad who was dearest to her in the world, and her heart sank. 'Does George know?' 'Not yet.' Dick saw the relief that came into her face, and thought he divined what was in her mind. 'But he must be told at once,' he said. 'He's sure to see something about it in the papers. We had better wire to him to come to London immediately.' 'Surely father could have shown in two minutes that the whole thing was a mistake.' Bobbie made a hopeless gesture. He saw the sternness of her eyes, and he had not the heart to tell her the truth. Mrs. Crowley began to cry. 'You don't understand, Lucy,' said Dick. 'I'm afraid it's a very serious charge. Your father will be committed for trial.' 'You know just as well as I do that father can't have done anything illegal. He's weak and rash, but he's no more than that. He would as soon think of doing anything wrong as of flying to the moon. If in his ignorance of business he's committed some technical offence, he can easily show that it was unintentional.' 'Whatever it is, he'll have to stand his trial at the Old Bailey,' answered Dick gravely.