"Yes," I said, "I'll take them to my bank. At any rate, they'll be put away from prying eyes there." "And how shall we face her?" Eric asked. "How will she face us, that's the question?" I said, in a low voice. Then almost at the same moment we were both startled by hearing a low tapping upon my door. Eric and I turned and looked inquiringly at each other. "It's Budd, your man, I expect," he whispered. "He must not see me. Perhaps he's heard of the affair and come to tell you. Look, I'll get in there," and springing across to a big old-fashioned oak wardrobe he slipped inside and I closed the door noiselessly. Then, quick as thought, I swept up the letters and other articles upon the table, placed them in one of the drawers, and stood awaiting a further summons. In a moment the low tapping was repeated. "Who's there?" I inquired, crossing and drawing aside the heavy _portiere_. "Wilfrid!" whispered a low voice. "Can you see me? I must speak with you at once." I started as though I had received a blow. It was Sybil herself! CHAPTER SIX. CONTAINS A CURIOUS CONFESSION. I unlocked the door, and opening it, met the love of my youth standing there in the darkness. "Wilfrid!" she gasped, in a low whisper, "I--I want to speak to you. Forgive me, but it is very urgent. Come along here--into the blue room. Come, there is no time to lose." Thus impelled, I followed her along the corridor to the small sitting-room at the end, where she had apparently left her candle. By its light I saw that she was dressed in a black tailor-made gown, and that her face was white and haggard. She closed the door, and noticing that I was still dressed, said,-- "Have you only just come up to bed?" "Yes," was my answer. "Eric and I have been gossiping. The others went up long ago, but he began telling me some of his African yarns." "But everyone is in bed now?" she inquired, quickly. "Of course," I answered, wondering why she had come to me thus, in the middle of the night. She had changed her dinner-gown for a walking dress, but there was still the bow of blue velvet in her gold-brown hair which she had apparently forgotten to remove. "Wilfrid!" she said, in a low, hard voice, suddenly grasping both my hands. "Although you refused to marry me you are still my friend, are you not?" "Your friend! Of course I am," I answered rather hoarsely. "Did I not tell you so before dinner?" "I know you did, but--" and she dropped her fine eyes, still holding my hands in hers. Her own hands trembled, and apparently she dared not look me full in the face. "But what--?" I asked. "What troubles you? Why are you dressed like this?" "I--I have been very foolish," she whispered. "I am, after all, a woman, and very weak. Ah! Wilfrid--if I only dare tell you the truth-- if I only dare?" she gasped, and I saw how terribly agitated she was. "Why not? Why not confide in me?" I urged, seriously. "I can keep a secret, you know."