"I dare say he would, ma'am," I answered, guiltily recalling Captain Branscome's own words to me on this subject.
"Then why did he take the man's money, eh? Well, go on with your story."
I breathed more easily for a while, but by-and-by, when I came to tell of the discussion by the old windmill, I felt her eyes upon me again.
"Wait a moment. Captain Coffin gave you a key, and this key was to open the corner cupboard in his lodgings. Wasn't it rather foolish of him to send you, seeing that this Aaron Glass had seen you in his company, and would recognize you if he were watching the premises, which was just what you both feared?"
"He didn't count on me to go," I admitted; "at least, not first along."
"On whom, then?"
"On Captain Branscome, ma'am."
"Oh! Did he send you with that message to Captain Branscome?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Then why didn't you tell us so? Well, when you took the message, what did Captain Branscome say? And why didn't he go?"