But after a few spoonfuls of soup, Winnie declared I was too nervous to eat and I might as well talk.
"Well, I will," I said. "But, look here, you two. To begin with, I want you to understand that I'm involved in this matter in a business way, and I'm also interested in a personal way. And I don't want any silly talk about it's being unfortunate or regrettable that I should be. It's a business case, Aunt Lucy, as far as the settlement of Mr. Schuyler's estate is concerned, and it's a personal affair that I'm acquainted with Miss Van Allen; and I propose to make more or less effort to find some trace of that girl, and to see if there is any possible chance that she may not be the guilty one after all."
"Good for you, Lord Chesterton!" cried Winnie. "I always knew you were the soul of chivalry, and now you're proving it! What are you going to do—to find out things, I mean?"
"I don't know yet, Win. But if you want to help me, you can do a lot."
"Indeed, she won't!" declared Aunt Lucy. "If you have to do these things as a matter of business, I can't object. But I won't have Winnie dragged into it."
"No dragging, Aunt Lu, and nothing very desperate for Winnie to do.
But, I'd be jolly glad if both of you would just glance out of the
window occasionally and see if you see anything going on at the Van
Allen house, that's all."
"Oh, I'll do that!" Winnie cried. "Nobody can see me, I'll keep behind our curtains, and I can see that house perfectly well."
"I don't mean all the time, child. But I do feel sure that Vicky Van will come back there, and if you glance out now and then, you might see her go in or out."
"But it's dark," said Aunt Lucy, who was becoming interested, in spite of her scruples.
"I don't mean to-night, or any night. But in the daytime. She's likely to come, if at all, in broad daylight, I think."