“It would make all the difference in the world, if I knew you weren’t making a lot bigger mistake now.”  He rose, “I think, if you don’t mind, I’ll ’ave a few words with Rickets, after all.  I think I’ll go up and see him now.”

There was no change in the expression of her eyes, but her eyelids quivered.  “No, Sidney, don’t.  For Goodness’ sake don’t go and say anything.”

“I’m not going to say anything.  I only want to know—­”

“I’ve told you everything—­everything I can.”

“Yes; but it’s what you can’t tell me that I want to know.”

“Well, but do wait a bit.  Don’t you speak to him before I see him.  Because I don’t want him to think I’ve given him away.”

“I’ll take good care he doesn’t think that, Flossie.  But I’m going to get this off my mind to-night.”

“Well then, you must just take him a message from me.  Say, I’ve thought it over and that I’ve told you everything.  Don’t forget.  I’ve told you everything, say.  Mind you tell him that before you begin about anything else.  Then he’ll understand.”

“All right.  I’ll tell him.”

Her eyes followed him dubiously as he stumbled over Mr. Partridge’s legs in his excited crossing of the room.  She was by no means sure of her ambassador’s discretion.  His heart would make no blunder; but could she trust his head?

Up to this point Flossie had played her game with admirable skill.  She had, without showing one card of her own, caused Spinks to reveal his entire hand.  It was not until she had drawn from him the assurance of his imperishable devotion, together with the exact amount of his equally imperishable income, that she had committed herself to a really decisive move.  She was perfectly well aware of its delicacy and danger.  Not for worlds would she have had Spinks guess that Rickman was still waiting for her decision.  And yet, if Spinks referred rashly and without any preparation to the breaking off of the engagement, Rickman’s natural reply would be that this was the first he had heard of it.  Therefore did she so manoeuvre and contrive as to make Rickman suppose that Spinks was the accredited bearer of her ultimatum, while Spinks himself remained unaware that he was conveying the first intimation of it.  It was an exceedingly risky thing to do.  But Flossie, playing for high stakes, had calculated her risk to a nicety.  She must make up her mind to lose something.  As the game now stood the moral approbation of Spinks was more valuable to her than the moral approbation of Rickman; and in venturing this final move she had reckoned that the moral approbation of Rickman was all she had to lose.  Unless, of course, he chose to give her away.

But Rickman could be trusted not to give her away.

When Spinks presented himself in Rickman’s study he obtained admission in spite of the lateness of the hour.  The youth’s solemn agitation was not to be gainsaid.  He first of all delivered himself of Flossie’s message, faithfully, word for word.