"I feared you might hold me responsible for what has occurred," he said simply. "And the sight of me cannot fail to call up painful thoughts. I do not profess to be other than an enemy of the man you regard as a friend. You know too much of the matter for me to impose on you--even if I wished to do so. I can only say that I regret that our interests are opposed." She smiled faintly. "You take rather much for granted, I think," she said. "Why should you suppose I am interested in the matter at all? Women do not usually meddle in such dangerous and discreditable enterprises--you will forgive me for speaking of this as I feel... I cannot see that it is creditable to be concerned in this business of yours." "Perhaps not," he said. "But then, again, perhaps you don't fully understand. And aren't you judging a little by results?" "I think it is reasonable to draw conclusions from results in most instances," she answered. "From final results," he returned... "But not at this stage." "I had hoped this was the last stage," she said. "I had hoped it might be," he returned with some grimness of manner... "But we haven't won yet." "Nor lost?" "We can't lose, Mrs Lawless. It has to be a fight to the finish." He regarded her fixedly. As was usual when in her presence, the distrust which he entertained for her at other times vanished to yield to a liking and confidence which he admitted with some reluctance, but which he was unable to subdue. Hers was a magnetic personality, and this in conjunction with her beauty robbed a man of his wits. At his age he should be impervious to the charm of women. But man is never too old to be influenced by the sex. "It's rather a big check we've come upon," he resumed, after a momentary pause. "I'm sadly in need of assistance... That's why I have come to you." She opened her eyes wide in astonishment. "You never supposed that I might assist you?" she said. "I am hoping you will," he answered... "in a way in which only you can. I want you--if you will be so kind--to furnish me with Mr Lawless' present address. He ought to be here, on the spot." She sat very still for a while, looking beyond him out through the window. "Isn't one broken head and one life sufficient?" she asked presently in a low, strangely controlled, unemotional voice. "It seems to me that your view of things is out of proportion, Colonel Grey, when you can sacrifice the lives of men for a packet of scandalous letters." "That means," he said, "that you decline to give me the information?" "I have not the information to give," she answered with dignity.--"I should certainly not give it, if I had. ... My one fear is that Mr Lawless will hear of this affair and return." "I could wish I shared your belief," he replied. "But I fancy you may ease your mind on that score... And there is less danger in this than you imagine... the dog that bites is chained."