The man sat down with his back to the light, so that he could look straight into Madge’s face.
“Captain Jules will be here after a little, Miss Morton,” he said gravely, “but he wished me to have a talk with you first.”
Madge looked curiously at the unknown man. She could not obtain a very distinct view of his face, but she saw that he was very distinguished looking, that his eyes seemed quite dark, and that he wore a pointed beard. He did not look like an American. At least, there was something in his appearance that Madge did not quite understand. It struck her that perhaps the man was a lawyer. It could not be that Lillian was right in her guess. The treasure in the iron safe had not yet been sold, so it might be that this man wished to make some offer for it. Whoever he might be the silence was becoming uncomfortable. The little captain decided to break it.
“I wonder if you wish to talk to me about the treasure that we found?” she inquired, smiling. “I would rather that Captain Jules should be in here when we speak of that.”
The stranger shook his head. He had a very beautiful voice that in some way fascinated the girl.
“No, I don’t wish to talk about your treasure, but I do wish to speak of something else that was lost and is found again. I don’t know that you will value it, child, or that it is worth having, but Captain Jules thinks you might.”
Madge’s heart began to beat faster. This strange man had something of great importance to tell her. She wondered if she had ever seen him anywhere before. There was something in his look that was oddly familiar. But why did he look at her so strangely and why did not her old friend come to her to end this foolish suspense?
“I have been down here on a visit to Captain Jules a number of times this summer and he has always talked of you,” went on the fascinating voice. “I have longed to see you, but——Miss Morton, Captain Jules Fontaine and I knew your father once, long years ago. The news that you had proof of his innocence made us very happy last night.”
Madge would have liked to bounce up and down in her chair, like an impatient child. Only her age restrained her. Why didn’t this man tell her the thing he was trying to say? What made him hesitate so long?
“Yes, yes,” she returned impatiently, “but do you know whether my father is alive now? That is the only thing I care about.”