Dick went along the balcony, thinking hard. It was obvious that Clare had found the interview painful, though he had tried to make it easier for her. She had been alarmed, but he wondered whether she had given him the warning out of tenderness for Jake. It was probable that she really thought Kenwardine was not to blame, but it must have been hard to acknowledge that his house was a dangerous place for an extravagant lad. Still, a girl might venture much when fighting for her lover. Dick frowned as he admitted this. Jake was a good fellow in spite of certain faults, but it was disturbing to think that Clare might be in love with him.
It was something of a relief when Kenwardine met him at the door of his room and took him in. Dick felt that tact was not so needful now, because the hospitality shown him was counterbalanced by the theft of the plans, and he held Kenwardine, not Clare, accountable for this. Kenwardine indicated a chair, and then sat down.
“As you haven’t been here since you got better, I imagine there’s some particular reason for this call,” he said, with a smile.
“That is so,” Dick agreed. “I’ve come on Fuller’s behalf. He gave you a check the other night. Have you cashed it yet?”
“No. I imagined he might want to redeem it.”
“He does; but, to begin with, I’d like to know how much he lost before he staked the check. I understand he increased the original stakes during the game.”
“I dare say I could tell you, but I don’t see your object.”
“I’ll explain it soon. We can’t get on until I know the sum.”
Kenwardine took a small, card-scoring book from a drawer, and after a few moments stated the amount Jake had lost.
“Thank you,” said Dick. “I’ll pay you the money now in exchange for the check.”