Mrs. Pelham Odin nodded. "True," she said, with her sharp eyes on the carpet, "well, then, you must take Mavis to your rooms."
"Worse and worse: Rebb would hear of it."
"There is Mr. Macandrew's office, of course. Yes." Mrs. Pelham Odin dropped her fan with an air of decision. "Take Mavis there, closely veiled. I shall bring Charity also veiled. Should we settle to carry through this plot, I can arrange for Charity to board somewhere, and Mavis can come back here as Charity. And then---- Oh, it's all right. I begin to see my way. Good-night."
"Good-night, and thank you. Your kindness will not be unrewarded."
"No," she laughed--"three thousand a year is worth working for."
"I don't believe that you think of that."
"Not solely, of course. I want to help you and to see you happy. Also I am very sorry for this poor girl, and Major Rebb is a man I hate. But the three thousand a year for Charity also forms an element. Mixed motives, you understand--very mixed. So once more, good-night."
Gerald took his departure very much cheered at having brushed away another obstacle from the path which was to lead Mavis to the altar. He knew that Mrs. Pelham Odin was both a clever and an obstinate woman, and although he did not credit her with money-grubbing, yet he felt convinced that she would not surrender Charity's chance of getting three thousand a year, if she could help it, since she would indirectly participate in such good fortune. Also Tod, for the same reason, would be anxious to assist--though Tod was not a miser either. On the whole, Haskins was very satisfied, and having done all that he could do he waited patiently for the arrival of the Seamew at Gravesend with Mavis on board.
The boat was late, as the weather did not prove propitious. Gerald went to Gravesend, and walked about the streets of that dull seaport in a frenzy of impatience. Finally he was undeservedly rewarded, for to the hotel where he was stopping--he had given Sammy Lee the address at Exeter--came a lean, bright-eyed captain with Mavis in charge. The girl was closely veiled, and plainly dressed in some dark material. It would not do for her to attract attention, seeing that England was ringing with the murder of which she was accused and with her strange escape.
Sammy Lee's mate proved to be a very pleasant little man, who confided to Gerald that Sammy had told him all and that he did not believe in the guilt of his passenger for one moment. "She's as pretty as a picture, and as true as steel, and as innocent as a dove," said the poetical captain, "and if that Rebb beast hurts her, well then, I'll have him shanghaied on board the Seamew, and do for him." After which, with a nod, he departed.