"Well," asked Ellison anxiously, as soon as they were inside and had shut the door, "how have you succeeded?"
"Admirably, so far. I have dispatched the cablegram, and by this time to-morrow we shall know our fate."
"But what proof have you that they will believe your tale?"
"The Government Resident's word. He has guaranteed the truth of my statement."
Not another syllable did Ellison utter. His lips moved, but no sound came from them. Then suddenly, with a little cry, he stretched out his arms towards the counter as if to sustain himself, and missing that, fell prone in a dead faint upon the floor.
In a minute or two Murkard had brought him back to consciousness.
"What on earth's the matter with you, Ellison?" he cried. "You're surely not going to give way now that the business is accomplished?"
"I don't know," the other replied shamefacedly, as soon as he was sufficiently recovered to talk. "I suppose the anxiety has been too much for me. My wife must know nothing of this, remember."
"Trust me. And now I shall advise you to keep very quiet until the answer comes. There is nothing to be gained by knocking yourself up, and everything, whichever way you look at it, by being calm."
"But, Murkard, for the life of me I don't understand how you managed it. No family in the world would advance such a sum without full and strict inquiry."
"There must be no 'buts,' I have taken the matter in hand. The Government Resident, who believes in me, strangely enough, has guaranteed the authenticity of what I have said. I have put the matter clearly before your family, and I leave it to their sense of justice to do what we ask. Remember if, as I said last night, there is any blame to be incurred by anyone, I take it."
"Murkard, I am not fit to look you in the face. I am a cur of the worst kind."
"Hush! hush! you mustn't say such things of yourself."
"But I mean it! I mean every word I say! I am not fit to----"
"Whatever you are, Cuthbert, I don't want to know it. I have told you before, and I tell you again, our destinies, yours and mine, are one. Come what may, I _must_ help you."
"You have been the truest friend that mortal man ever had."
"And I shall continue to be until the day of my death. Whatever you may do, right or wrong, I shall stand by you. Never doubt that."