Part 32 (1/2)
”You speak in the past tense. Seems to me the foolishness is only just coming to a head!”
”Stop your chaff, there's a good fellow. You can use that later on. Just now it's almost life and death with me. What's your sister's full name, d.i.c.k?”
”Full name? Mabel Seton-Carr, of course!”
”Of course! Of course! Of course! Didn't Gracie write it in full in my book?”
”I'll be hanged if I know! I shouldn't think it would add to the book's sale if she did--with my remembrance of her pothooks and hangers. You don't live at Wivernsea, do you? I never heard that there was a lunatic asylum there!”
”Lived there for years!”
”Oh! Then perhaps you knew Mabel's husband, Seton-Carr, when he was alive?”
”When--he--was--alive?”
”Yes. Of course! You blithering old idiot, you; what are you looking at me like that for? You don't think that I am such an utter egregious a.s.s as to suggest that you have known him since his death, do you?”
”How long, d.i.c.k--how long--how long has he been dead?”
”Nine--ten months now. Between ourselves, there was not much to regret when he added his signature to the big death-roll. Though it's not customary to speak truth of a man who can't speak for himself, is it?”
”Blind! Blind! Blind! She's a widow! Of course! What a fool--what a fool I have been!”
”Hear, hear--large-sized kind!”
CHAPTER XXV
EJECTED FROM THE CABIN
Masters remained buried in thought for a few moments. The sudden opening of his eyes and the refres.h.i.+ng news were almost overpowering him.
Presently he looked up at his companion, who was watching him closely; said:
”You can't think, d.i.c.k, my dear boy, what a big fool I have been making of myself.”
”No--I can't. If it was any foolishness bigger than your present size, it must have been simply colossal!”
”You told your sister of me in your letter. Did you mention me as Prince Charlie?”
”Of course!”
”She'll know! She'll guess! I am glad. Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!”
He seized and wrung the hand of the amazed d.i.c.k, utterly ignoring his feelings. Only felt that he must do something to relieve his own. He retained just sufficient self-control to keep himself from indulging in a wild dance of jubilation.
d.i.c.k, affecting to nurse crushed fingers, made an effort to get to the bottom of things. Usually he accepted circ.u.mstances without inquiry as to their source; but suspicion was roused in him now. It was suspicion of a kind that he wanted to make into certainty; he said:
”A few minutes ago you expressed regret that I had mentioned you at all in the letter.”