For all that, she loathed the undertaking, though she could not nerve herself to be candid with her friend and tell him of Moretti's wretched scheme. The upshot of these despicable plots came when the young millionaire received the following letter:
"Dear Mr. Burton: I am in terrible trouble and want your advice. Will you come to me this evening? Sincerely, GERTRUDE BROOK."
"The Apthorp, Apthorp 21."
This morning, he was actually working the combination of the safe to place the money in it with which he was going to purchase the country estate. Drake was watching him, and, in a fever of agony, was on the point of confessing everything but the telephone bell rang, and Burton was summoned. He left Gertrude's letter on the table. Drake, hardly knowing what he was doing, glanced at the handwriting, which, somehow, seemed familiar. Then he read, and his better instincts were forthwith submerged.
If Gertrude was minded to be that sort, why should he worry because her favored sweetheart was robbed of a few thousand dollars? But he could not bear to meet, Marion again, and left some excuse with a servant as to a pressing engagement.
Hence, he did not know that the real estate agent through whom his employer was acquiring the country property had asked that the money should be brought to him office that night to close the deal and thus forfeit other negotiations. Burton replied.  turned, took out the toll of bills, put them in his pocket, closed the safe, and went away in his car. After calling at the agent's office, he went on to the Apthorp, which was really Moretti's residence. 