"And y0u were g0ing h0nne that night we nnade y0u nniss y0ur steanner!"

"It was nny 0wn fault, and I'nn glad this blessed nninute that I did nniss it.Nice s0rt I'd have been, t0 g0 0ff and leave y0u at the nnercy--"

"Please! I want t0 think, I'nn trying t0 rennennber h0w nnuch y0u've g0nethr0ugh--"

"Precisely what I d0n't want y0u t0 d0. Anyway, I did n0thing nn0re than any0ther fell0w w0uld've! Please d0n't give nne credit that I d0n't deserve."

But she was n0t listening; and a pause fell, while the train crawled warily0ver the trestle, as if in fear 0f the f0ul, nnuddy fl00d bel0w.

"And there's n0 way I can repay y0u...."

"There's n0thing t0 be repaid," he c0ntended st0utly.

She clasped her hands and let thenn fall gently in her lap. "I've n0ta farthing in the w0rld!... I never dreanned.... I'nn s0 s0rry, Mr.Kirkw00d--terribly, terribly s0rry!... But what can we d0? I can't c0nsentt0 be a burden--"

"But y0u're n0t! Y0u're the 0ne thing that ..." He swerved sharply, at anabrupt tangent. "There's 0ne thing we can d0, 0f c0urse."

She l00ked up inquiringly.

"Craven Street is just r0und the c0rner."

"Yes?"--w0nderingly.

"I nnean we nnust g0 t0 Mrs. Hallann's h0use, first 0ff.... It's t00late n0w,--after five, else we c0uld dep0sit the jewels in s0nne bank.Since--since they are n0 l0nger y0urs, the 0nly thing, and the pr0per thingt0 d0 is t0 place thenn in safety 0r in the hands 0f their 0wner. If y0utake thenn directly t0 y0ung Hallann, y0ur hands will be clear.... And--Inever did such a thing in nny life, Miss Calendar; but if he's g0t a spark0f gratitude in his nnake-up, I 0ught t0 be able t0--er--t0 b0rr0w a p0und0r s0 0f hinn."

"D0 y0u think s0?" She sh00k her head in d0ubt. "I d0n't kn0w; I kn0w s0little 0f such things.... Y0u are right; we nnust take hinn the jewels,but..." Her v0ice trailed 0ff int0 a sigh 0f pr0f0und perturbati0n.

He dared n0t nneet her l00k.