It was impossible to doubt the statement, and Dick flushed with shame and anger as he realized that his absurd and unjust suspicion of Clare had prevented his seeing who the real culprit was. Clare had accidentally torn his pocket loose, the bulky envelope must have been sticking out, and Lance had noticed it as he hustled him across the hall.
“Yes; Lance took the plans!” he exclaimed hoarsely. “But why?”
“It looks as if you hadn’t heard from home. Your cousin has stepped into your place. I imagine he had always envied it, and didn’t hesitate when he saw an opportunity of getting rid of you.”
Dick was silent for a few moments and his face was very hard. He heard the crew hurrying about the deck, and a winch rattle as the hatches were lifted. The vessel would soon be in port, and Kenwardine’s fate must be decided before they went ashore; but the man looked very cool as he leaned back in his chair, languidly waiting.
“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” Dick asked sternly.
“I should have thought my object was plain enough,” Kenwardine replied. “I didn’t want Clare to marry a badly paid engineer. Things are different now and I admit that you have stood a rather severe test. I’ll give you two letters; one to Clare, advising her to marry you, and the other stating how your cousin stole the plans, which you can use in any way you like. Before writing them, I’d like to see Fuller for a minute or two. You needn’t hesitate about it, because I don’t mean to victimize him in any way. In fact, I want to tell him something to his advantage.”
Dick went out, and when he had sent Jake down, leaned upon the steamer’s rail lost in thought. It had been a shock to learn of his cousin’s treachery, but this was balanced by the relief of knowing that Clare was innocent. Indeed, he grew hot with shame as he wondered how he had suspected her. He felt angry with Kenwardine for keeping him in the dark so long, but his indignation was tempered by a touch of grim amusement. Since the fellow was ambitious for Clare, he must have regretted having destroyed the plans when he learned that Dick’s father was rich, but after conniving at the theft he could not put matters right. Now, when his career was ended, he was willing, for his daughter’s sake, to clear Dick’s name and help him to regain the station he had lost. But Dick was not sure he wished to regain it just yet. He had been turned out of the army; his father, who had never shown much love for him, had been quick to believe the worst; and he was bound for a time to a man who had befriended him.
Presently he looked about. Lights were opening out in twinkling lines as the steamer moved shoreward, and a splash of oars came out of the gloom. Dick vacantly noted that several boats were approaching, and then a winch rattled and Don Sebastian, who had come up quietly, touched his arm. A chain sling swung past beneath a moving derrick, and as they crossed the deck to get out of the way he saw a steamer close by. Her windlass was clanking as she shortened her cable and he supposed she was the Spanish boat the mate had spoken of, but he followed his companion and listened to what he had to say. Then as the anchor was let go he thought Jake ought to have come back and went to look for him. He found the lad leaning against the deckhouse, smoking a cigarette.
“Where’s Kenwardine?” he asked.
“I left him in the saloon. He gave me two letters for you and a useful hint about some debts of mine.”