"It's the same," said the young man; and again he fixed an intent, half-veiled scrutiny upon the visitor.
"I believe you understand," he abruptly resumed. "Charlotte is inclined to stand up for him,—she would for anybody, for that matter,—but he is a little— Well, I regret that I can't express myself to him. If you only knew how he has watched her, how he has made her life a weariness—"
"I do know something of it." Converse laughed dryly. "If her word carries any weight with him, he knows it too."
As his auditor's look became inquiring, the Captain narrated what had occurred at the Westbrooks'.
Clay put a period to the recital with a satisfied "Good!"
"Does Lynden regard Miss Joyce with any unusual warmth of affection?"
"Does he!" with an indignant stare. "Why, he's head over heels in love with her. Did you ever hear of such presumptuous conceit?"
Very soberly, Converse replied that he had not.
"That's what makes his conduct all the more annoying," this confidence went on; "it is as if he suspected her of something. Why, he might even think she had something to do with the De Sanchez business."
"Sure enough." The idea was illuminating. Presently Converse inquired how much the young man knew of De Sanchez's determination to marry Joyce.