A little quiver went over her face.  “Perhaps not.  I don’t know what he believes, or what he will believe when he finds the money gone.  That is what I want to prevent—­if only I can prevent it.  It is Guy’s only chance.  What he did was done wickedly enough, but it was at a time of great excitement, when he was not altogether master of himself.  But unless it can be undone, he will go right down—­and never come up again.  Oh, don’t you see—­” a sudden throb sounded in her tired voice—­“that if once Burke knows of this, Guy’s fate is sealed?  There is no one else to help him.  Besides,—­it wasn’t all his own doing.  It was Kieff’s.  And away from Kieff, he is so different.”

“Ah!  But how to get him away from Kieff!” said Kelly.  “The fellow’s such a damn’ blackguard.  Once he takes hold, he never lets go till he’s got his victim sucked dry.”

Sylvia shuddered.  “Can’t you do anything?” she said.

Kelly looked at her with his honest kindly eyes, “If it were me, Mrs. Ranger,” he said, “I should tell me husband the whole truth—­and—­let him deal with it.”

She shook her head instantly.  “It would be the end of everything for Guy.  Even if Burke let him off, he could never come back to us.  It would be as bad as sending him to prison—­or even worse.”

“Not it!” said Kelly.  “You don’t trust Burke.  It’s a pity.  He’s such a fine chap.  But look here, I’ll do me best, I’ll get hold of young Guy and make him disgorge.  How much did the young ruffian take?”

“I don’t know.  That’s the hopeless part of it.  That is why I must see him myself.”

Kelly pursed his lips for a moment, but the next he smiled upon her, “All right.  I’ll manage somehow.  But you mustn’t go to-night.  You tell Burke you’re too tired.  He’ll understand.”

“Do you know where Guy is?” she said.

“Oh yes, I can put me hand on the young divil if I want him.  You leave that to me!  I’ll do me best all round.  Now—­suppose we have another trot, and then go back!”

Sylvia turned her horse’s head.  “I’m—­deeply grateful to you, Mr. Kelly,” she said.

“Donovan!” insinuated Kelly.

She smiled a little.  She seemed almost more piteous to him when she smiled.  “Donovan,” she said.

“Ah, that’s better!” he declared.  “That does me good.  To be a friend of both of ye is what I want.  Burke and you together!  Ye’re such a fine pair, and just made for each other, faith, made for each other.  When I saw you, Mrs. Burke, I didn’t wonder that he’d fallen in love at last.  I give ye me word, I didn’t.  And I’ll never forget the look on his face when he thought he’d lost ye; never as long as I live.  It—­it was as if he’d been stabbed to the heart.”

Tactless, clumsy, sentimental, he sought to pour balm upon the wounded spirit of this girl with her tragic eyes that should have held only the glad sunshine of youth.  It hurt him to see her thus, hurt him unspeakably, and he knew himself powerless to comfort.  Yet with that odd womanly tenderness of his, he did his best.