"I don't approve of it at all," he said, at last.
"Don't say that," she pleaded. "I've hoped so much that you'd--"
"At the same time I won't say that the thing isn't feasible. I'll just verify these bonds and certificates, and--"
He took them, one by one, from the bag, and, having compared them with the list, replaced them.
"And," he continued, "you can come and see me again at this time to-morrow."
"You can thank me when I've done something--not before. Very likely I sha'n't do anything at all. But in the mean while you may leave your satchel here, and not run the risk of being robbed in the street. If I refuse you to-morrow--as is probable I shall--I'll send a man with you to see you and your money safely back to Hargous."
He touched a bell, and a young man entered. On directions from the banker the clerk left the room, taking the bag with him; while Diane, feeling that her errand had been largely accomplished, rose to leave.
"You can't go without the receipt for your securities. How do you know I'm not stealing them from you? What right would you have to claim them when you came again? Sit down now and tell me something more about yourself."
Half smiling, half tearfully, Diane complied. Before the clerk returned she had given a brief outline of her life, agreeing in all but the tone of telling with much of what Mr. Grimston had stated half an hour earlier.
"It has been all my fault," she declared, as the young man re-entered. "There's been nobody to blame but me."
"I see that well enough," the old man agreed, and once more she prepared to depart.
"Look at your receipt. Compare it with the list there on the desk." Diane obeyed, though her eyes swam so that she could not tell one word from another. "Is it all right? Then so much the better. You'll find me at the same time to-morrow--if you're not late."
"Since you won't let me thank you, I must go without doing so," she began, tremulously, "but I assure you--"
"You needn't assure me of anything, but just come again to-morrow."
She smiled through the mist over her eyes, and bowed.
"I shall not be--late," was all she ventured to say, and turned to leave him.
She had reached the door, and half opened it, when she heard his voice behind her.