I loathe him. After the way he behaved.”

“Then what on earth’s the trouble?”

“It’s—it’s a letter of mine he’s got.” Sheila flushed and lowered her eyes.

“A letter?” Sally drew in a quick breath. “You mean the sort of letter that you wouldn’t like anyone else to read?”

“I must have been mad. I can’t imagine how I ever came to write it. I was so in love with him then I hardly realised what I was doing.”

“Is he trying to blackmail you?”

The other nodded miserably. “He rang up last Friday and asked me to meet him in Kensington Gardens. He hinted what it was about, so I didn’t dare to refuse. I hoped that perhaps I could persuade him to give it me back.”

“How much did he ask?”

“He—he wants me to pay him a thousand pounds for it. He knows about my engagement, and he says that unless I am prepared to buy it for that amount he will put it in an envelope and post it to Julian.” Sheila clenched her fists. “I could kill him. I would kill him if I only had the pluck.”

“It’s no good talking like that. What you really ought to do is to go to Julian and tell him the truth.”

“Oh, Sally, I couldn’t, I couldn’t. You don’t know him as well as I do. He loves me all right, he loves me frightfully, but if he thought there was any chance of a scandal, anything that might interfere with his public career—”

“He’d chuck you over at once—is that what you mean?”

“I’m sure he would. You see, he’s so keen on getting into the Cabinet, and he takes everything so desperately seriously.”

“Well, I wouldn’t break my heart over a man like that. He isn’t worth it.”

“But I want to marry him. I’ll never meet anyone else who’ll suit me so well or give me such a good time. Besides, think of all the horrid things people would say if it was broken off now. Oh, I just couldn’t face up to it. I—I’d rather go out and throw myself in the river.”

“But a thousand pounds! Why, it’s fantastic. How can you possibly get hold of it?”

“I can’t. All I could raise would be five hundred. I could get that by selling Aunt Lucy’s necklace.”

“And you would, I suppose?”

“Why not? What’s an ugly old necklace to me compared with the chance of marrying Julian?”

“Even then it would only be half what he’s asking for.”

“That’s where I want you to help me. You’re so clever, and you don’t get frightened and rattled like I do. It wouldn’t be the slightest use my trying, but if you were to go and see him and have a talk to him—”

“I!”

“Oh, you will, Sally, promise me you will.” With an imploring gesture Sheila caught hold of her sister’s hands. “It’s so terribly important, and there’s no one else I can trust. If you were to let me down—”

“Don’t say any more about drowning yourself, darling, because I don’t believe it.” Sally smiled wryly. “Let’s cut out the sob stuff and come to the point. What you’re suggesting is that I should drop in on this beauty and do a spot of bargaining for you?”

Sheila wriggled uncomfortably and drew away her hands. “I feel it’s an awful lot to ask,” she murmured.

“Where does he hang out, and how could one get hold of him?”

“That’s what makes it so difficult.