"You have found him," echoed Nancy, "then Peary must hide his diminished head!"
"Where is he? Why does he conceal himself?" demanded Colonel Tallboys excitedly.
To this double-barrelled question, Geoffrey at first made no reply, then he said, "That is his secret, and one which I am bound to respect."
"There's no disgraceful element in the matter?"
"None. But please don't question me, for I can tell you nothing."
"I think it remarkably strange, that I am to be kept in the dark," said Colonel Tallboys speaking with a pink complexion, and rising temper. "How is he? At least I suppose you may answer that. Is he much changed—eh?"
"You forget that until lately I had never seen him."
"Yes, that's true. I knew him long ago! Such a smart handsome young fellow, full of go and enterprise, and very popular. Lord! how I admired and envied him!"
"I think I may say, that he is fairly well in health, that he will never leave India, was glad to see me, and to hear I was going to be married."
"And I am delighted that you have carried out your undertaking," added Fan, "and not had all your searching and trouble for nothing!"