Hadn't she seen the poor starving debtors stretch their hands through the "Debtors' door" in the Old Bailey and beg for alms from the passers-by with which to purchase food?
She pictured the poor young man going through this humiliation and it made her shudder.
He was so handsome! And all for the want of a paltry twenty-seven shillings! Twenty-seven shillings?
Was not that the exact sum of money in the purse?
"Oh, that must have been for his rent," cried Lavinia, clasping her hands in great distress.

"And he gave it to me!" She was overwhelmed.

She must return the money at once.

But how?
She ran to the door.

It was locked sure enough.