“Certainly, sir.”
“My dear Nephew,—Should you see Captain Link at the Crystal Palace, will you ask him to proceed to Gravesend with all haste, and there await the arrival of my ship the Retriever, as her captain died suddenly yesterday, and, as Link is a single man and will not be returning just yet in the Neptune to Sydney, he might be glad of a little change. Link will find his traps on board, but he must get to Gravesend with all speed, and proceed direct to Cherbourg, as the Retriever’s cargo is due there already.
“Have you seen anything of Mr Falcon, Harry? Should he cross your path, at once apprise the police, requesting them to keep close on his track, and let them acquaint me of it, as I have obtained positive evidence since Captain Link left me to visit you at the Crystal Palace, that this precious financier is an arrant impostor. Instruct Link to start as soon as you can.—Your affectionate uncle,
“William Goodall.”
“First of all I should like to say,” said the squire, “how very pleased I am to make your acquaintance, and offer my warmest welcome to Wedwell Park. And now, Mr Goodall, will you favour us with the name of your charming fellow-voyager?”
“Oh, I can do that, father,” said Edith Dove, “as Miss Chain, for that is the lady’s name, has told me all about herself. I had better repeat part of what Miss Chain said. ‘A portion of my history,’ she stated, ‘appears to have some bearing on the recent episodes which have occurred. My mother and I, when residing at Boulogne, were robbed of our little fortune by a financier, then styling himself Filcher, and now known as Filcher Falcon.’ This Miss Chain has disclosed. I can quite understand his not daring to face us all here.”
Miss Chain’s remarks seemed to have a disturbing effect on Doctor Peters, for he got up and left the room; and as no one had further remarks to make the squire dismissed Warner and the servants, omitting any allusion to what Maria said about air-flying robbers.
No sooner were the squire’s investigations over than the mariner, who was anxious to leave for Cherbourg, was complimented, questioned and surrounded by the Doves and Miss Chain, with a view of affording him any assistance he might require, while everyone expressed regret at his sudden departure. The host ordered his carriage to take the captain over to Lewes to catch the first train that would take him to Gravesend.
Captain Link promised that he would see them again after his trip to Cherbourg, and Miss Dove kindly promised that they would take care of Miss Chain; while the squire told the captain that there would always be a knife and fork for him whenever he could manage to return to the park.
Presently the carriage drove up to the door, and, with many handshakings, the captain departed, accompanied as far as the station by the ladies, while Harry Goodall remained behind with the squire, at his special request.