“Ludovic cannot ask any woman to be his wife as matters now stand,” he responded, frowning into the fire.
“Then we must certainly establish his innocence,” said Miss Thane.
He glanced up. “Believe me, I should be glad to do anything in my power to help the boy, but this coming into Sussex is madness!”
“Well,” said Miss Thane reasonably, “he cannot be moved until his wound is in some sort healed, so we must make the best of it. Tell me, do you think his cousin Basil is indeed the real culprit?”
He was silent for a moment. At last he said: “I may be prejudiced against him. It sounds fantastic, but I would not for the world have him know of Ludovic’s whereabouts now.” He looked at her searchingly. “What is your part in this, Miss Thane?”
She laughed. “My dear sir, my part is that of Eustacie’s chaperon, of course. To tell you the truth, I have taken a liking to your romantic cousins, and I mean to see this adventure to a close.”
“You are very good, ma’am, but—”
“But you would do very much better without any females,” nodded Miss Thane.
“Yes,” said Sir Tristram bluntly. “I should!”
“I expect you would,” said Miss Thane, quite without rancour. “But if you imagine you can induce Eustacie to leave this place now that she has found her cousin Ludovic, you have a remarkably sanguine nature. And if you are bound to have Eustacie, you may just as well have me as well.”