“Until I saw Mrs. Blake, I did not know.”
“I doubt if Mrs. Blake was entitled to inform you,” Colvin rejoined. “Well, when we got to work at the Mariposa’s boiler, you approved the first plan. In fact, you claimed the alterations Mr. Robbins sketched would not give as good results?”
“That is so,” said Kit, and Colvin turned to the others, as if he wanted them to note Kit’s agreement.
“It looks as if your claim was justified. Mrs. Blake, no doubt, told you our competitors’ boat has beaten the Mariposa and they used our boiler; but the pattern was the modified pattern we experimented with in the original plan. The plan you preferred!”
Kit saw where the other led. Colvin plainly meant to make him accountable.
“I suppose you have grounds to imagine the people did use our pattern, sir?”
“Our grounds are very good,” said Colvin, dryly. “All our competitors did not use was a fitting we patented. In fact, we are satisfied they got our plans——” He stopped and giving Kit a steady glance, resumed: “How did they get the plans?”
“I cannot tell you, sir.”
“Do you imply that you’re unable? Or that you’re not willing?”
Kit did not hesitate. When he arrived at the office, he saw his line, and it did not lead to his declaring he had cheated.