“Maderstrom, then,” Richard asked, with a sudden more complete apprehension of the affair, “was over here to spy upon you?”
“That's the ticket,” Sir Henry assented.
Richard frowned.
“And he bribed Philippa and Helen with my liberty!”
“Don't you worry about that,” his brother-in-law begged. “They must have known by instinct that a chap like Maderstrom couldn't do any harm.”
“Where is he now?” Richard asked eagerly. “Helen insisted upon keeping me out of the way but we've heard all sorts of rumours. The Commandant has been up here after him, hasn't he?”
“Yes, and I sent him away with a flea in his ear! I don't like the fellow.”
“And Maderstrom?”
“The pseudo-Mr. Lessingham, eh?” Sir Henry observed. “Well, to tell you the truth, Dick, if there is one person I am a little sorry for in the history of the last few weeks, it's Maderstrom.”
“You, too?” Richard exclaimed. “Why, every one seems crazy about the fellow.”