XXXVI
I smiled brilliantly at the dear fellow. I sprang to him, holding out a welcoming hand.
"Why, Sir Alec, this is a delightful surprise!" I exclaimed. "Where did you come from? I thought I had lost you, at Leeuwarden."
So utterly was he dumfounded, not to say flabbergasted, by the manner of his reception, that I had time to spring these three quickly following remarks upon him before he was able to answer.
When he did, it was with a sledge-hammer. "Well, I'm d—d!" said he.
I stared in gentle amazement; then, glancing quickly at Alb, appeared suddenly to apprehend his meaning.
"Why, of course, you must be surprised to find me on a boat with Jonkheer Brederode."
"You lied to me at Leeuwarden," went on Sir Alec. He was never a man to mince words, as I noticed when visiting my aunt. Poor, pretty, flirtatious Aunt Fay!