She trembled on her feet, and swayed, and would have fallen but that Ingolby and a woman in black, who had pushed her way through the crowd with white, anxious face, caught her.
"Give her air, and stand back!" called the sharp voice of the constable of Carillon, and he heaved the people back with his powerful shoulders.
A space was cleared round the place where Fleda sat with her head against the shoulder of the stately woman in black who had come to her assistance.

A dipper of water was brought, and when she had drunk it she raised her head slowly and her eyes sought those of Ingolby.
"One cannot pay for such things," she said to him, meeting his look firmly and steeling herself to thank him.

Though deeply grateful, it was a trial beyond telling to be obliged to owe the debt of a life to any one, and in particular to a man of the sort to whom material gifts could not be given.
"Such things are paid for just by accepting them," he answered quickly, trying to feel that he had never held her in his arms, as she evidently desired him to feel.

He had intuition, if not enough of it, for the regions where the mind of Fleda Druse dwelt.
"I couldn't very well decline, could I ?" she rejoined, quick humour shooting into her eyes.

"I was helpless.