"Yes, sir."
"And you had him shanghaied by this Woywod," said Maynard, frowning, as the whole situation became instantly clear to him.
"I did."
"Does Stephanie know?"
"Not a thing."
"Was she a party to this transaction?"
"In no way. I always knew I loved her, but we only found out she loved me while Beekman was away during the year after his father's death. I begged her to confess the truth, to appeal to you and to Beekman, and to break the engagement. She refused to do any of these things. She said it was the most cherished desire of your heart, that you and old Beekman, who were bound together by affection of long standing, had agreed upon it, that she had given her word with her eyes open."
"And you did this thing with what in view, pray?"
"To delay the marriage in the hope that something might turn up and I might win her."
"Something has turned up."