Page:The Outcry (London, Methuen & Co., 1911).djvu/294

280 Sandgate, ain't you honestly going to help me?" he pursued.

This engaged her sincerity without affecting her gaiety. "Mr. Bender, Mr. Bender, I'll help you if you'll help me!"

"You'll really get me something from him to go on with?"

"I'll get you something from him to go on with."

"That's all I ask—to get that. Then I can move the way I want. But without it I'm held up."

"You shall have it," she replied, "if I in turn may look to you for a trifle on account."

"Well," he dryly gloomed at her, "what do you call a trifle?"

"I mean"—she waited but an instant—"what you would feel as one."

"That won't do. You haven't the least idea, Lady Sandgate," he earnestly said, "how I feel at these foolish times. I've never got used to them yet."

"Ah, don't you understand," she pressed, "that if I give you an advantage I'm completely at your mercy?"