Ronald sprang to his feet in horror.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I am," she answered, raising her eyebrows. "My sister and myself had a quarrel during the day, and I did not say good-bye to her at the house, so I suppose she was sorry, for she came on board and took leave of me there."
"But Vassalla says she was not on board."
Carmela looked surprised.
"Why, he was with her all the time! I was separated from them by the crowd, and I did not see my sister again, but Vassalla told me he had seen her safely down the gangway before the ship sailed."
Ronald sat wrapped in thought; so Foster was right, there was some plot on foot; he made another attempt.
"But I saw a letter from your sister to Vassalla, in which she says she was not on board, being confined to her room with a bad headache."
"Why should my sister write such a letter?" asked Carmela, angrily. "I don't understand all this mystery; there was no reason why she should conceal the fact that she said good-bye to me on board the 'Neptune.'"
"I hope not," he said, gloomily.