"Weel," he drawled, "I'm thinking yon besom may have had a hand in the thing."
A few minutes later Jessy, standing where the light of a big lamp streamed down upon her through the boughs of a leafless maple, bade Vane farewell at her brother's gate.
"If my good wishes can bring you success, it will most certainly be yours," she said, and there was something in her voice which faintly stirred the man, who was feeling very sore.
"Thank you."
She did not immediately withdraw the hand she had given him. He was grateful to her and thought she looked unusually pretty with the sympathy shining in her eyes.
"You will not forget to wait at Nanaimo and Comox?" she reminded him.
"No. If you recall me, I'll come back at once; if not, I'll go on with a lighter heart, knowing that I can safely stay away."
Jessy said nothing further, and he moved on. She felt that she had scored and she knew when to stop. The man had given her his full confidence.
Soon afterward Vane entered his hotel, where he turned impatiently upon Carroll.
"You can go into the rotunda or the smoking-room and talk to any loafer who thinks it worth while to listen to your cryptic remarks," he said. "As we sail as soon as it's daylight to-morrow, I'm going to sleep."