“Why, what did she say?” asked Mrs. Ellice with natural feminine curiosity as regards love affairs.
“I hardly feel warranted in repeating it,” said the Lady Elfrida, “as it was given to me in confidence.”
Later in the evening the Lady Elfrida sought Captain Hornaby. “My dear Captain, don't you think Miss Sawyer sings divinely?”
The Captain, with his mind on Col. Spencer and the tenfold check, replied, rather brusquely, “I'm not a great lover of negro melodies.”
The Lady Elfrida felt sure that Captain Hornaby was still an “eligible,” but she reflected that he was a fourth son and dependent upon the bounty of his father and elder brother, and that her dowry must come from her brother who, in her opinion, had a very extravagant wife—but none of those American girls had any idea of economy.
The next morning, Captain Hornaby went to London in search of Colonel Spencer. He visited his clubs, and, because it was necessary, many of the gambling places, but his quest was fruitless. As a last resort he went to the War Office and learned that the Colonel had sailed the day before to join his regiment in India.
The Captain reported the failure of his mission to Florence.
“I have been talking the matter over with Aunt Ella. She advises me to send a cable message to father asking what bank the check was deposited in and by whom.”
“He may have cashed it at your father's bank,” said the Captain.
“Then Aunt Ella says my father can see the bank officers and make sure that the Colonel got the money.”