“Then,” he asked, “what do you mean to do about your claim on Gladwyne?”
“In the first place, there’s the insurance; but I discovered by accident that the company Gladwyne had his policy on was the one that had insured his cousin. Whether they’ll be struck by the coincidence and the unusual nature of both accidents and make trouble or not, I can’t tell; but if they pay up there’ll be an end of the thing. Failing that, I’ll have to consider. My demands might be contested by the Gladwyne trustees—the deal was a little irregular in some respects—but I parted with the money and I’m going to make an effort to get it back.”
“How much did Clarence owe you?”
Batley told him and Nasmyth looked thoughtful.
“Well,” he requested, “if you meet with strong opposition, come to me before you decide on any course, and I’ll see what can be arranged. I dare say there’ll be some trouble, but I know the trustees—and, as I said, there are people who must be saved all needless pain, at any cost.”
“It’s promised,” agreed Batley. “I’ll make things as easy as possible, but that’s as far as I can go. I’m not rich enough to be recklessly generous.”
Lisle woke soon after this and asked one or two half-intelligible questions, but they gave him no information and he went to sleep again; then Crestwick arrived with more fuel and Nasmyth took the first watch while his companions rested. He was very cold, and now and then he saw Batley, who had discarded most of his wet clothes, wake up for a few moments and shiver. Once or twice he glanced longingly at the garments spread out round the fire, but when he felt them they were still too wet to put on. After a while Crestwick relieved him, and when he awakened dawn was breaking across the black ridges and the rushing river. Batley had left his place, and Crestwick began to stride up and down the beach, presumably to warm himself. To Nasmyth’s satisfaction and surprise, Lisle spoke to him.
“You slept pretty sound,” he said. “Didn’t hear me getting some information about what happened out of Batley.”
“Then you know?”
“Yes,” was the grim answer. “The thing’s finished; there’s nothing to be done.”