“Ah!” said the old lady; “that’s better. Birds of a feather do flock together, after all.”
But the flocking pair had no such thoughts as those with which they were given credit, for directly they were outside, Duncan Leslie set Madelaine’s heart beating by his first words.
“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.”