“Look here,” he said, “I want to take you into my counsel, Miss Van Heldre, because you have so much sound common-sense.”
“Is that meant for a compliment, Mr Leslie?”
“No; I never pay compliments. Look here,” he said bluntly, “you take an interest in Harry Vine.”
Madelaine was silent.
“That means yes,” said Leslie. “Now to be perfectly plain with you, Miss Van Heldre, so do I; and I want to serve him if I can.”
“Yes?” said Madelaine, growing more deeply interested.
“Yes, it is—as the sailors say. Now it’s very plain that he is not contented where he is.”
“I’m afraid not.”
“What do you say to this?—I will not be a sham—I want to serve him for reasons which I dare say you guess; reasons of which I am not in the least ashamed. Now what do you think of this? How would he be with me?”
Madelaine flushed with pleasure.