"Twenty-one thousand you offered, sir," said Thickens. "Exactly. More if it is needed. If you expose this terrible affair to Sir Gordon and Mr Dixon they may feel it their duty to hand Mr Hallam over to the hands of justice. He must be saved from that." "What can I do, sir? There, then," said Thickens, "since you put it so I will keep to it, but only on one condition." "And what is that?" "Mr Hallam must go away from the bank and leave all keys with me and Mr Trampleasure." "But what excuse am I to make?" said Hallam huskily. "I don't think you want teaching how to stop at home for a few days, Mr Hallam," said Thickens sternly; "you can be ill for a little while. It will not be the first time." "I will agree to anything," said Hallam excitedly, "only save me from that other horror. Bayle, for our old friendship's sake, for the sake of my poor wife and child, save me from that." "Am I not fighting to save you for their sake?" said Bayle bitterly. "Do you suppose that I am as conscienceless as yourself, and that I do not feel how despicable, how dishonest a part I am playing in hindering James Thickens from exposing your rascality? There, enough of this: let us bring this terribly painful meeting, with its miserable subterfuges, to an end. Thickens is right; you must leave this building at once and not enter it again. He must take all in charge until your successor is found." "As you will," said Hallam, humbly. "There are the keys, Thickens, and I am really ill. When Mr Bayle brings the money I will help in every way I can. There." Bayle hesitated a moment, and then mastered his dislike. "Come," he said to Hallam, "there must be no whisper of this trouble in the town. I will walk down with you to your house." "As my gaoler?" said Hallam with a sneer. "As another proof of what I am ready to sacrifice to save you," said Bayle. He walked with him as far as his door. "Stop a moment," said Hallam in a whisper. "You will do this for me, Bayle?" "I have told you I would," replied the curate coldly. "And at once?" "At once." "You will have to bring me the money. No, you must go up to town with me, and we can redeem the papers. It will be better so." "As you will," said Bayle. "I have told you that I will help you, will put myself at your service. I will let you know when I can be ready. Rest assured I shall waste no time in removing as much of this shadow as I can from above their heads." He met Hallam's eyes as he spoke, just as the latter had been furtively Measuring, as it were, his height and strength, and then they parted. End of Volume One. VOLUME TWO, CHAPTER NINE. A FEW WORDS ON LOVE. "What has papa been doing in the lumber-room, mamma?" asked Julia that same evening. "Examining some of the old furniture there, my dear," said Millicent, looking up with a smile. "I think he is going to have it turned into a play-room for you."