A violent shudder shook him like ague, his fingers relaxed, and with a sobbing cry, dreadful to hear, he dragged the fainting woman to her feet and pushed her towards the door, crying "Go, go, for God's sake!" She walked unsteadily through the shop with a face the colour of chalk, hearing and seeing nothing.

The red-letter sale was in full swing.

A crowd of customers jostled one another as they passed in and out; the coins clinked merrily in the till.

Miss Giltinan caught sight of her face, and wondered.

Half an hour later, growing suspicious, she ran upstairs, and knocked at the door on a pretext of business.