"You have never had a place in my friendship, Signor Keralio, and you never will. I see through your motive and I despise you now all the more. My husband, who is an honorable man, would be the first to have done with me forever if I entered into any such bargain. He has mistaken your character. When he returns I will enlighten him, and he will tell you himself that his wife has no dealings with a scoundrel. As for your threats, and tale of mysterious danger, I don't believe a word you say. But I may think it worth while to cable my husband in order to put him on his guard and to inform the police. Good night!" Before he could stop her, she had touched an electric bell and left the room. The next instant Roberts, the butler, appeared and threw open the front door. There was nothing to do but go. She had defied him. CHAPTER X Eagerly, breathlessly, Helen tore open the cablegram. It was late Saturday afternoon and she had been with Ray and Mr. Steell to see some paintings--a private view of a remarkable collection of old masters. After having tea at the Plaza they had taken a brisk walk through the Park, the lawyer insisting that the exercise would do them good. "It's just come, m'm," said the maid, holding out the thin envelope. "Oh, it's from Kenneth!" exclaimed Ray excitedly, throwing down her muff and running to look over her sister's shoulder. For long, dreary weeks Helen had expected, and waited for, this message, and now it had come, she was almost afraid to read it. There were only a few words, cold and formal, the usual matter-of-fact, businesslike phraseology of the so-much-a-word telegram: CAPE TOWN, Thursday (delay in transmission). Sail to-day on the _Abyssinia_. All's well. KEN. "Is that all?" exclaimed Ray, disappointed. Mr. Steell laughed. "How much more do you expect at $2 a word?" "Well, he might be a little more explicit," pouted Ray. "If I were his wife, that wouldn't satisfy me." Helen laughed lightly. Her eyes sparkling, her usually pale cheeks filled with a ruddy color from her walk in the park, the lawyer thought he had never seen her looking so pretty. "It satisfies me," she said, her face all lit up with joyous excitement. "All I want to know is that he is safe and on his way home. The cablegram is dated Thursday. Then he's already on the water three days! I wonder why we didn't hear before?" Mr. Steell glanced over her shoulder. "The dispatch has been delayed. Don't you see? It says, 'delayed in transmission.'" Helen turned round, her face radiant. "When ought he to get here?" The lawyer was silent for a moment as if calculating. Then, looking up, he said: "The _Abyssinia_ is not a very fast boat. I suppose she is the best he could get. She's due at Southampton two weeks from to-day. A week after that, he ought to be in New York--providing nothing happens."