“Gentlemen, are you satisfied?”
“We are,” said Sir Richard. “I cannot so far malign human nature than to do otherwise than believe that what the colonel has said, on his word of honour, is perfectly true.”
“Stop,” said Ned, fiercely. “Will you say, Colonel Blood, if you are in possession of any knowledge or information of any kind whatever respecting Ellen Harmer?”
“Sir,” said Blood, coldly, “I have no right to say more than in all honour will clear myself of every imputation. More than that will be to battle about the affairs of others, and to me that is odious.”
Thus ended this fruitless interview, which, on the part of Colonel Blood, was naught else than a tissue of lies.
“D——n the rascal!” said Ned to Garnet, as they drove home. “I am certain that the cool, smiling villain knows all about it.”
“Then let us make it our business to entrap him,” said Garnet. “It is very hard after she has been rescued from their clutches once, that she should again be taken away, and from your own uncle’s house, too.”
“Never mind,” said Ned; “I’ll be even with Colonel Blood yet.”
“You played your part admirably, Blood,” said the king, when Sir Richard and the others had left the audience chamber.