"Now if I hadn't been, I'd have backed that man right into the river without touching him." The girl glanced at him and then lapsed into a ripple of laughter.
"I'm afraid I must give you up," said she.
Just then Deringham came into the verandah, and Alton turned towards him.

"It's a little difficult to put it as I would like to, but I'm glad it was you.

You know what I mean." Deringham appeared a trifle embarrassed.

"I'm not sure that you are indebted to me at all," he said.

"I only seized his shoulder, and you would not have expected me to look on ?" Alton shook his head.