“Before I take any more of your time, I’ve heard-well-that your fees are dreadfully high. I don’t know whether I can afford to pay what you’ll charge.”

Her fingers were writhing together in her lap. Her gray skirt slipped above her knees, but her eyes were intent on Shayne and she didn’t notice. He lifted a big hand reassuringly.

“Sometimes I manage to collect a decent fee, but it’s always in line with the job I do and never more than my client can stand. We’ll discuss the fee after you’ve told me what you want done.”

“One thing more. No matter what I tell you, you’ll keep it confidential? Will you give me your word of honor?”

“Hell,” said Shayne in disgust, “if you don’t think you can trust me, you’d better leave right now.”

A flush crept into her cheeks. She caught her lower lip between her teeth and lowered her lashes. She smoothed her skirt down over her knees and said tonelessly, “I guess I’m acting like a fool. I-you see-I–I tried to commit suicide yesterday.” She shuddered, with eyes downcast. “Everything looked so terribly hopeless. Then I met Mr. Lacy and he told me about you and, well-I was crazy enough to start hoping again.”

Shayne said, “This isn’t getting us anywhere. You’re talking in circles and now you’ve got back to the starting point. See if you can’t start making sense for a change.”

She glanced up angrily, then faltered, “I deserved that. The trouble is, I’ve been thinking in circles. I think I’ll take that drink you offered me.”

“What’ll it be? There’s practically anything you want in the cabinet.”

“Just-whatever you’re drinking.” Helen glanced at the cognac bottle timidly.

“This is pretty potent stuff to take straight unless you’re used to it.” Shayne heaved his rangy body up and went to the cabinet, where he got a Seltzer bottle and a highball glass. He went into the kitchen, returned with three ice cubes in the tall glass. The girl watched in silent absorption while he poured cognac over the cubes and squirted Seltzer in. She accepted the glass gratefully.