“He was certainly not forced,” said Evelyn, with an angry blush. “We don’t know why he went, but his object was good.”
Jasper gave her a queer, fixed look and then studied Mrs. Haigh. She obviously agreed with Evelyn, but he thought Kit’s not remaining at the bridge had annoyed her. In fact, since he imagined she did not like to own Kit had omitted to seize his opportunity, her frankness was perhaps strange. Mrs. Haigh, however, knew where frankness paid.
“Do you know who are his employers?” he inquired.
Mrs. Haigh stated the company’s title, and Alan looked up with surprise. Jasper smiled ironically.
“I was willing to go without my nephew’s help, but I didn’t reckon on his joining my antagonists,” he said and turned to Mrs. Carson. “The company is the competitor of a Canadian house in which I’m interested. Just now, a railroad weighs its tenders for some important contracts against ours.”
“You don’t imply that Kit knew?” Evelyn rejoined.
“It’s possible he did not. For all that, I imagine the bridge company knew whom they employed. When one engages an engineer one makes inquiries, and a number of people know I support the opposition.”
“I don’t see the others’ object,” said Alan in a disturbed voice.
“It looks like a joke, but Canadian engineers are not remarkably humorous. Then, although I expect they found out about Kit’s leaving the shipyard, they risked engaging him.”
“Kit was not bound to enlighten the people,” Mrs. Haigh remarked.