Then his face brightened again.

"Before midnight--but they will be here before then, of course.

Perhaps I may borrow the money for a few hours." But in order to do this, or to attempt it, he must go out.

What if his friends arrived at the moment when he was out of the house?
"No," he said, consulting his imaginary time-table, "there is no train now, for a couple of hours, at least." He took up his hat and turned to go.

It struck him, however, that to provide against all possible accidents it would be as well to leave some written word upon his table, and he took up a sheet of writing paper and a pen.