Once or twice he nodded, a strange smile creeping over his face; once his lips moved as though asking a question; no sound came from them, but apparently he had his answer, for he nodded assent, halted, drew a deep breath, and looked upward.
"We can try that," he said aloud in his naturally pleasant voice; and, entering the house, went upstairs to his wife's apartments.
Shiela's maid answered his knock; a moment later, Shiela herself, gowned for the afternoon, came to the door, and her maid retired.
"Do you mind my stepping in a moment ?" he asked.
She glanced back into her own bedroom, closed the door, and led the way to the small living-room at the other end of the house.
"Where's that maid of yours ?" he asked.
"Sewing in my dressing-room.

Shall I send her downstairs ?" "Yes; it's better." So Shiela went away and returned shortly saying that her maid had gone; and then, with a questioning gesture to her husband, she seated herself by the open window and looked out into the sunshine, waiting for him to speak.
"Do you know," he said abruptly, "what saved Cardross, Carrick & Co.
from going to the wall ?" "What ?" The quick, crisp question sounded like the crack of a tiny whip.
He looked at her, languidly amused.
"You knew there was a panic ?" he asked.
"Yes, of course." "You knew that your father and Mr.Carrick were worried ?" "Yes." "You didn't realise they were in bad shape ?" "Not--very.

Were they ?" "That they needed money, and that they couldn't go out into the market and borrow it because nobody would lend any money to anybody ?" "I do not understand such details." "Details?
Ah--yes, quite so....

Then you were not aware that a run was threatened on the Shoshone Securities Company and certain affiliated banks ?" "Yes--but I did not suppose it meant anything alarming." "And you didn't understand that your father and brother-in-law could not convert their securities into the ready cash they needed to meet their obligations--did you ?" "I do not understand details, Louis....

No." "Or that they were desperate ?" Her face altered pitifully.
"On the edge of bankruptcy ?" he went on.
"_What_!" "Then," he said deliberately, "you don't know what helped them--what tided them over those two days--what pulled them through by the slimmest margin that ever saved the credit of anybody." "Not--my money ?" "Yes; your money." "Is it true, Louis ?" "Absolutely." She leaned her head on her hand and sat gazing out of the open window.
There were tears very near her eyes, but the lids closed and not one fell or even wet the thick lashes resting on her cheeks.
"I supposed it would please you to know what you have done." The face she turned toward him was wonderful in its radiance.
She said: "I have never been as happy in all my life, I think.