He took the umbrella from her silently, and they hurried on side by side in the rain. Gano, with growing agitation, searched for some way of letting her know that he was in possession of the situation, and meant to remain in possession. As they turned into the Rue de Provence she stopped, breathless. "Are you quite sure he wants to see me only for a minute?" "So he says." "He understands that just at present I can't sit up with him any more?" "He doesn't expect you to stay to-night, at any rate," Gano answered, in a determined voice. He began to walk on. "Mr. Gano." She laid an arresting hand on his arm. He looked down coldly at the white face. "You've shown too plainly in these last weeks to what lengths your friendship for Dick can go. I don't pretend to apologize for asking if you can spare the time to take him away for a few weeks as soon as he gets a little better." The man hesitated. She misunderstood. "I've just got some money from the _Semaine_," she went on, "and I can anticipate my next payment. I've told you how I owe it to Mr. Driscoll that I have the money at all. It's his in a sense, anyhow." "You want to get him out of Paris?" "Yes, _anywhere_ for a change." "I might do that if he can be moved." "Oh, thank you, thank you. Dick can't say he hasn't got friends. You _are_ good about it." They splashed on a few steps in the downpour, and she slackened her pace again. "But since you are going away alone with him--and, anyhow, I ought to tell you. He's developing a kind of monomania. He doesn't want to live--wants--" Her voice choked. "I know," said Gano. "You know! He's ventured to say it to you?" "Yes." "Then, you see, it's serious." She was clinging to him again. Gano nodded. Before he could help himself he was trying her. "You see, he'll never get well." "How can you say that? and say it so--so--" Indignant tears stood in her upturned eyes, and she took her hands off his arm. "Surely you know it's true." "I only know that he's still alive, and that I love him." They walked on--they were nearly at the door. "You know how he suffers," began Gano. "Everybody suffers," she interrupted. "He knows nothing about the worst pain. And he has his art; he has you to care about him, and--he has me. Oh, Mr. Gano"--she turned on him suddenly--"help me to take care of him--help me, for God's sake--help me to keep him in the world!" "Yes, yes; I give you my word." A great weight was lifted off them both. They went up-stairs together, but Gano left Mary at Driscoll's door. He wrote some letters in his own room, then he went softly up-stairs, heard the low, pleasant sound of voices, and came down without interrupting them. He went to bed, and slept soundly till the morning. "I shall cable Bostwick & Allen first thing after breakfast," he said to himself.