"I'm quite sure he wouldn't," she said, "There's no question of that. He's reached the limit of his patience. He'd simply turn Tony out of the house--turn him adrift. And that means shipwreck. Tony might--might even do--what he tried to do the other night. Kill himself. He's desperate. Don't you see, everything's doubly bad for him now--when he's in love with Doreen. Unless he's pulled out of this hole somehow, it means smashing up his whole life." "And if you pull him out of it the way you propose doing, it means smashing up yours," returned Cara succinctly. "You know what Eliot's like--how jealous and suspicious. And you know Brett's reputation!" "I can manage Brett," insisted Ann. Cara made a swift gesture. "It isn't that! It's Eliot, and you know it. If he ever came to hear that you'd been to supper on the _Sphinx_ with Brett, he'd never trust you again." "He might. I'm hoping--" "He wouldn't"--with conviction. "It would wreck everything. Ann, don't be such a fool--such a _fool_!" Cara spoke with desperate intensity. "For God's sake, give up this crazy plan!" "I can't. I must go. I've promised." Her brows drawn together, Cara reflected a few minutes in silence. She looked as though she were trying to work out a problem of some kind--balancing the pros and cons. At last: "There's only one way out of it," she said slowly. "Let me go instead of you. I think--I think I could make Brett see reason, and persuade him to give those notes of hand to me instead of to you. At any rate, let me try." "No good," said Ann, shaking her head. "He wouldn't give them to you. He wants his pound of flesh"--bitterly. "Why don't you ask Eliot to give you the money?" demanded Cara suddenly. A deep flush stained Ann's cheeks. "I've not fallen so low that I'll ask the man I'm engaged to for money with which to pay another man's debts." "You'd ask him if you were married"--defiantly. "In certain circumstances--yes. But that's different. Oh, you must see it's different! Besides, Tony would accept money from _me_, even though my husband had given it to me. But he'd be too proud to take it from Eliot--or from any one else." "Too proud! It seems to me Tony's precious little to be proud about!" "The more reason why he should keep any pride he has remaining. Don't be hard on him, Cara. Remember he's young, and that the instinct to gamble is in his very blood. This has been a lesson to him--a frightful lesson. I _know_--if he once gets clear of this--he'll run straight for the future." "Then you must let me go to the yacht," insisted Cara with finality. "No" The reply came with a definiteness there was no mistaking. "I've given my word to Brett that I'd come," "You know what Eliot will think if he hears of it? He'll probably--almost certainly--distrust you utterly, and it will ruin both your lives."