"Ah, believe me, I am heart and soul their friend!"
"Does your father know it?"
"Yes: he knows that I am seeking them."
"Does he approve your search?"
"No, he does not."
"Good. Now listen. We have short time to work in. You have a carriage outside. Your father will be here any moment. I could never keep from him my indignation and even distrust. I shall get into that carriage with you, and you must conceal me somewhere and give me time to set the proper machinery in motion to find these boys. There is no other way. Your father has some reason for keeping their whereabouts concealed. I may know the purpose and I may not. The boys may have been killed in the volley that struck me. It will require a mere telegram to find out. I know whom to address, but I must be where I can use trusted agents. I have no money. You can, I hope, provide me with that, or the Spragues if you can't."
He spoke with a flush deepening on his face, and arose with something like vigor.
"Ample means—you shall have any sum you need," Kate said, handing him a well-filled purse.
"Good—I have one or two articles in my room. I will fetch them and follow you to the carriage."
Ten minutes later the carriage was whirling over the broad road to Warchester. By Jones's advice it was stopped at the hospital. Here he proposed remaining for the night, to mislead suspicion if any one had taken the precaution to follow.