"Where's Dick?"
"Dick?" repeated Staffer. "Ah! Now I begin to understand! You sent him down the Firth!"
"Yes; I did. And where is he?"
"On board Andrew's yacht, I imagine."
Elsie was sensible of keen satisfaction; but only part of her fears were set at rest.
"And Andrew? Is he on the yacht?"
Staffer looked hard at her. She was trembling with excitement and cold, but she did not flinch, and he surprised her by a curious, bitter laugh. It carried a hint of understanding that brought the blood to her face.
"I don't know where he is, but there's reason to think he has come to no harm. That ought to satisfy you."
Elsie was silent. Her relief was great, but now that Andrew was safe, her mind could fix itself on other matters. Staffer had guessed her secret and knew that she had spoiled his plans; but his manner was more ironical than revengeful. For all that, it disturbed and frightened her. She thought something that had hit him hard had happened, and his cold-blooded calm was daunting.
"Well," he said, "there's a touch of grim humor in the situation. I found you a home and gave you the advantages you enjoy; and now you have baffled me and ruined the work of cleverer brains than mine. It's humiliating to see one's schemes brought to nothing by a raw girl's devotion to her stupid lover."