“I can raise the money right enough—Batley’ll see to that; but I’d sooner do it another way. The interest’s high enough to make one think, and in this case I’m paying it on money he’s putting into his pocket.”
There was a good deal to be inferred from this reply, but Lisle considered before he spoke again.
“You’re twenty-one, aren’t you?” he asked.
“Yes,” assented the lad, “but the trustees keep hold until I’m twenty-four.”
He turned with quick suspicion to the Canadian.
“I don’t see what that has to do with you!”
“It isn’t very obvious,” Lisle agreed. “Shall we go in?”
They found Bella in the hall, and when her brother went to get-his coat she walked out on to the terrace with Lisle.
“Thank you,” she said gratefully when they were out of sight from the hall. “It was a relief to see you had succeeded in getting him away.”
“I’m sorry I was unable to do so sooner,” Lisle replied.