Part 2 (1/2)
”Oh, how wet you are!” exclaimed Mrs. Brun, the housekeeper, as the two brothers entered the house. ”Why, you're soaked!”
”Yes, we are a bit damp,” admitted Frank. He was putting it mildly, for the water was dripping from him and his brother in streams as they stood in the middle of the kitchen, having entered through the rear door with due consideration for the front hall rugs.
”Get your wet things off at once,” said Mrs. Brun, ”and I'll make you some hot tea.”
”Oh, we're not cold,” Ned answered. He and Frank took off their coats and shoes, and the housekeeper took charge of their garments while they hurried to their room to change to dry things.
”Your uncle has been asking for you,” Mrs. Brun called to them as they went upstairs.
”We'll see him in a few minutes,” Frank called back.
A little later, dry and comfortable, they went to the library. They found their uncle pacing up and down the room, evidently in a highly nervous and excited state. He glanced up as they entered, and exclaimed:
”Boys, I am quite worried!”
”Worried about us?” asked Frank. ”Why, we were out in the dory. It was a bad storm, but-”
”No, I wasn't worried about you. I felt you could take care of yourselves. But, at the same time, I am glad you have returned safely.
No, I am worried about other matters. Boys, I have a confession to make to you.”
”A confession, Uncle Philip?” repeated Frank.
”Yes. I had rather you heard the truth from me, than to get a garbled account from some one else, as you are sure to do sooner or later. Boys, I am likely to be taken away at any moment by the authorities!”
”Uncle Philip!”
”Oh, don't look so alarmed,” and he smiled at their blank faces. ”It isn't for anything disgraceful, nor on a criminal charge.”
”But what other charge can they arrest you on?” Frank demanded.
”On a political charge.”
”They don't do such things in this country!” cried Ned.
”The charge doesn't come from this country, boys. Sit down and I'll tell you as much of it as you need to know.”
CHAPTER III-UNDER ARREST
Mr. Arden ceased his pacing up and down the library, and taking up a bundle of papers from a table-papers that seemed fairly to bristle with red seals-he sat down in an easy chair. But he was anything but at ease himself.
”Boys,” he began, while Ned and Frank wondered what was in store for them, ”there is no need of going into too many details, or in saying I am sorry for what has happened. I am more sorry than I can ever tell you, for it looks as though I had betrayed the trust my dead brother left to me-the trust of bringing up you boys as he would have done himself had he lived.” As he spoke tears came into Mr. Arden's eyes.
”Don't worry,” said Ned, warmly. ”Whatever you have done, Uncle Phil, we know it was done with the best intentions.”
”That's right!” chimed in Frank.
”Well, it's good to hear you say that, for others might judge me more harshly,” went on the importer. ”And I really acted from the best motives and for your interests. I may have made a mistake-I don't claim to be infallible-but I intended no wrong.
”And now, boys, for the worst of it. It may happen that at any moment your fortunes, as well as mine, will be wiped out-lost.”