The silent man let his smile mean yes, and the alert company applauded. "Go h-on with the weddingg!" ordered the superior Mandeville.
"Where's Adolphe?" cried Kincaid, and "On with the wedding!" clamored the lads of the battery, while Anna stood gazing on the gray man and wondering why she had not guessed this very thing.
"Yes," he quietly said to her, "it's all right. You'll have it back to-morrow. 'Twon't cut love if you don't."
At that the gay din redoubled, but Flora, with the little grandmother vainly gripping her arms, flashed between the two.
"Anna!" she cried, "I don't bil-ieve!"
Whether it was true or false Mandeville cared nothing, but--"Yes, 'tis true!" he cried in Flora's face, and then to the detective--"Doubtlezz to phot-ograph it that's all you want!"
The detective said little, but Anna assured Flora that was all. "He wants to show it at the trial!"
"Listen!" said Flora.
"Here's Captain Irby!" cried Mrs. Callender--Constance--half a dozen, but--
"Listen!" repeated Flora, and across the curtained veranda and in at the open windows, under the general clamor, came a soft palpitating rumble. Did Hilary hear it, too? He was calling: