“I think you had better not do that,” he said.
“But why should a person watch her, except with the intention of trying to do her some harm?”
“Well, I don’t know. But I think if you do tell her, knowing how highly nervous she is, you will do her more harm than ever the mysterious watcher would. Perhaps you would even drive her out of the place, in which case most assuredly the watcher would go after her, while if we keep her here perhaps we may manage to draw his fangs.”
Mabin felt frightened. Then, being a matter-of-fact girl, she got the better of this feeling quickly, and looked up keenly at her companion.
“What do you exactly mean by that?” she asked.
“Only that I will get hold of the man quietly and find out what his little game is. Though I can guess.”
“Well, you can tell me what your guess is?”
“Why, debt, of course. One can see she is inclined to be extravagant, and very likely she has run up bills somewhere. Don’t you think that seems likely?”
His tone was rather anxious, Mabin thought. But she answered indignantly:
“No, I don’t. It would be very dishonorable to run away without paying one’s debts, and I don’t think you much of a friend to poor Mrs. Dale to suggest such a thing!”