It went with an ease that surprised her, for she remembered—­her brain was becoming every moment more strangely clear and alert—­she remembered that Burke had said only a day or two before that it needed oiling.  She opened the box, and with a fateful premonition looked within.

A few papers in a rubber band lay in the bottom of the box, and beside them, carelessly tossed aside, an envelope!  There was no money at all.

She took up the envelope, feverishly searching.  It contained a cigarette—­one of her own—­that had been half-smoked.  She stared at it for a second or two in wonder, then like a stab came the memory of that night—­so long ago—­when he had taken the cigarette from between her lips, when he had been on the verge of speech, when she had stood waiting to hear . . . and Guy had come between.

Many seconds later she put the envelope back, and got up.  Conviction had come irresistibly upon her; she knew now whose hand had oiled the lock, she knew beyond all doubting who had opened the box, and left it thus.

She was trembling no longer, but steady—­firm as a rock.  She must find Guy.  Wherever he was, she must find him.  That money—­her own sacred charge—­must be returned before she faced Burke again.  Guy was mad.  She must save him from his madness.  This fight for Guy’s soul—­she had seen it coming.  She realized it as a hand to hand fight with Kieff.  But she would win.  She was bound to win.  So she told herself.  No power of evil could possibly triumph ultimately, and she knew that deep in his inmost heart Guy acknowledged this.  However wild and reckless his words, he did not really expect to see her waver.  He might be the slave of evil himself, but he knew that she would never share his slavery.  He knew it, and in spite of himself he honoured her.  She believed he would always honour her.  And this was the weapon on which she counted for his deliverance, this and the old sweet friendship between them that was infinitely more enduring than first love.  She believed that her influence over him was greater than Kieff’s.  Otherwise she had not dared to pit her strength against that of the enemy.  Otherwise she had waited to beg the help of Kelly, who always helped everyone.

The thought of Burke she put resolutely from her.  Burke should never know, if she could prevent it, how low Guy had fallen.  If only she could save Guy from that, she believed she might save him from all.  When once his eyes were opened, when once she had beaten down Kieff’s ascendancy, the battle would be won.  But she must act immediately and with decision.  There was not a moment to lose.  If Guy were not checked now, at the very outset, there would be no saving him from the abyss.  She must find him now, at once.  And she must do it alone.  There was no alternative to that.  Only alone could she hope to influence him.

She stooped and locked the box once more, taking the key.  Now that she knew the worst, her weakness was all gone.  With the old steady fearlessness she went from the room.  The battle was before her, but she knew no misgiving.  She would win—­she was bound to win—­for the sake of the old love and in the strength of the new.