Mrs Gabriel glanced round, bent her head, and spoke lower. "I intend to refuse to pay this three hundred pounds for Leo. There is no chance of his earning it for himself, and he will soon be in serious difficulty. Now if you come forward as his old friend and--" "I don't like lending money," said Hale, who was something of a miser. "If you want to gain Sybil and make your sister happy, you must lend Leo three hundred pounds. When he is in your debt, well--the rest is easy." Hale nodded. "I see what you mean," said he, ponderingly. "The idea is not a bad one. But Leo--humph! Three hundred pounds! A large sum!" "Oh, I will be your surety for it," said Mrs Gabriel, impatiently. She did not want her plans upset by this miser. "But if you want to gain anything you must sacrifice something. You love Sybil?" "With my whole soul," said the cripple, and flushed. "And your sister?" "I would give anything to secure her happiness." "Three hundred pounds will be enough," said Mrs Gabriel, coolly. "Make Leo your debtor, and then you can deal with him. He is so honourable that he will keep his word even at the cost of his happiness. Well?" Hale reflected. "I will think of it," said he, cautiously. "As you please. But remember that if I do not have this settled within the week, I shall allow Leo to marry Sybil." Of course Mrs Gabriel had no such intention, but she determined outwardly on this course to frighten the baronet. It had the desired effect. "I will see to the matter," he said hastily; "to-night I will ask Leo to come and see me. It will all be arranged. But three hundred pounds!" He winced and Mrs Gabriel smiled. "I will be your surety," she said, rising. "Let me know when you have made Leo your debtor. Come, we must not talk any more. Here is Mr Pratt." It was indeed the host who came to disturb them. He wished to take the whole party round his house. Leo and Edith returned from the conservatory, the former looking bored, the latter brilliantly happy. Sybil did not like this, and glanced reproachfully at Leo, who immediately would have gone to her side, but he was anticipated by Hale. "Help me to get round the house, Miss Tempest," he said, pointing to his lame leg. "You must be my crutch." Sybil could not but assent, and so Leo found himself out in the cold. Peggy, who approved of his love for Sybil, took his arm. "Never mind," she said softly, "I will manage to take Sir Frank away," and Leo gave her hand a grateful squeeze. "Come, all of you!" cried Pratt, cheerily. "The museum is open."