Grey thought, "Clearly this young man is in debt. How lucky! When a man is in debt and wants money badly he will do----" He paused, thought of his own case, shuddered, and whispered in the innermost solitude of the desert of crime where he and his spectre dwelt,--"he will do anything--murder!" "You must not think I am in debt. I do not owe a shilling. I never did." "That is highly creditable in a young man of your expectations," said Grey, in a tone of high admiration. To himself he said, "I'm sorry it isn't for debts he wants the money. What can he want the money for? Nothing good, I'll swear." "You see, Mr. Grey, I may seem abrupt to you, but I do not mean to be so." "I assure you I cannot guess why you for a moment imagine I could find reason to think you abrupt." "Ah, well, yes! What I said about abruptness has rather to do with what I am about to say than with anything I have yet said. I am very quick to decide upon things, and very prompt to act, and I may say without boasting that once I take a thing in hand I usually make it turn out as I wish; I like to do things that seem difficult; but I never undertake anything when I do not clearly see my way to realisation." "Most useful, positively invaluable qualities," said Grey, in a tone of admiration; mentally he thought, "If what this man says of himself is true, my life depends upon the direction this cursed activity of his takes." "I have to leave the country for a time. I must go back to Egypt for some months." "Indeed!" ejaculated Grey. He could scarcely repress a cry of joy. To be rid, and rid quickly, of this dreamy energetic man was a mercy for which he did not dare to hope. "Do you leave England soon?" Grey asked in a tone of gentle sorrow. "In a few days. Ten days at the outside, and before I leave I want the money, and to put the thing I have decided upon in trim." "Can I be of any further assistance to you than financially?" "Yes, I think you can, if you will be kind enough. You take a great interest in Miss Midharst?" "Aha!" exclaimed Grey, as though he had been struck. The question of the young man caused the terrible importance of Miss Midharst to present itself suddenly to his mind. He saw at one glance the stakes he had put down, and the prize for which he was playing; and thus coming suddenly upon a bird's-eye view of his position, he received a violent shock, which forced the exclamation from him. "What's the matter?" cried the young man, rising quickly and approaching the banker. "Are you hurt?"