The stranger’s hand again went to his face, and as it was a large hand almost covered the features.
“I hadn’t heard,” he began in a very throaty voice, “I—I—didn’t know that the Captain—ah—wasn’t—er—what you just said, you know.”
Miss Katherine observed the stranger sympathetically. He had evidently been a friend of the Captain and felt his loss.
“Sit down, sir,” she said kindly, “I see you feel this, and no wonder. Of course in cases like this one is never sure just what has happened; but it is believed that Captain Shannon must have met with some misfortune as he has not been heard from for seven years.”
“Oh! seven years!” repeated the man. “Ah, I see.”
“It is a pity that such a man as Captain Shannon should be cut off in his prime,” sighed Miss Katherine.
“Ah, you think that the late Captain was—er—a—ah—some good in the world?” inquired the stranger.
“I am very sure he was that and a most charming man besides,” replied Miss Katherine, her eyes dwelling admiringly and wistfully on the portrait.
“The Captain should be hap—ah, I mean—er—it is pleasant—er—I should say, madam, that—ah—in fact I am detaining you,” he lucidly concluded.
“Not at all,” returned Miss Katherine affably. “If you would explain your business I might serve in place of my brother, or I can tell him you called, Mr. ——”