However, I've come to the last stage of the long
journey now, and I thank Providence that it ends so comfortably."
To this Valentine assented kindly, but he was at a loss to understand why
Captain Paget should have required the adjournment of the rest of the
party before giving utterance to these mild commonplaces.
For some moments the invalid relapsed into thoughtful silence. Then,
rousing himself as if with an effort, he took a few sips of a cooling
drink that stood by his side, and began with a startling abruptness.
"You remember your journey to Dorking, Val, last October, when you went
to see that mysterious old aunt of yours, eh?"
Valentine blushed as the Captain recalled this cunningly-devised fable.
"Yes," he said gravely; "I remember telling you that I was going to see
an aunt at Dorking."
"An aunt who had a little bit of money, eh, Val?" asked the Captain,
with a grin.
"Yes. I may have gone so far as to speak of a little bit of money."
"And neither the aunt nor the bit of money ever existed, eh, Val? They
were mere figments of the brain; and instead of going to Dorking you went
to Ullerton, eh, Val? You stole a march upon me there. You wanted to
throw your old chum off the scent, eh? You thought you had got hold of a
good thing, and you were afraid your friend and companion might get a
share of it."
"Well, you see, my friend and companion had a knack of getting the
lion's share.
Pages:
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527