“I gathered something of the kind from what he said.”
The marchioness pounced on the admission.
“So much the better. You hear that, Mr. Despencer?”
“Certainly. Most damaging evidence. He can’t possibly get out of that,” murmured the faithful one.
“My dear aunt!” exclaimed the startled captain, “surely you don’t anticipate any trouble with Hammond, do you?”
“Never mind. You say that he has made the engagement a subject of conversation among his friends, and that is sufficient to bind him as an honorable man.”
“But, good heavens! I didn’t say that,” protested her unfortunate nephew.
The marchioness turned coldly to her ally.
“Mr. Despencer, you heard?”
“Most distinctly,” said the witness. “Nothing could be clearer.”