"I think I can do it all easily. But what am I to do when he comes?"
"I shall be there to welcome him, James. You must contrive so that you do not reach the house until half-past twelve. You can be a quarter of an hour late in going to him; the interview will last quite half an hour—you will be agitated over your villainy, you know, and will have to drive your bargain; and the ride with him to the house will take another quarter of an hour or twenty minutes. Put him into the small drawing-room which looks on to the garden behind and come to me."
I sent him away then, telling him to think it all over and to ask me any questions necessary when he returned with my clothes.
I drafted a carefully mysterious letter, such as I deemed a scoundrel would write, making much of my conscience, but hinting unmistakably at a money reward; and when he came back we discussed the whole plan in considerable detail.
We were still occupied in this way when Colonel Katona's card was brought to me. I found him looking very haggard and worn with the emotions and incidents of the preceding night; but he held my hand and pressed it very warmly, and the hard eyes as he gazed at me were more like Gareth's than I would have deemed it possible for them to be.
"You have news for me, Miss von Dreschler? It is of my child?" he asked eagerly.
"Yes, it all concerns Gareth, Colonel."
"You are going to take me to her?"
"I hope so—but it will depend upon you."
"Then it is settled—there is nothing I will not do for that;" and he sighed deeply. "Tell me what you wish."