"Zo! We must send dis money to Polignac; his house is near at hand. Dere is one ding to zay: de house is mine, after all. I paid off de mortgage last week—let us zay, for a friend. Dat is all dat Madame need know: Grootz has paid de bonds—both bonds, house and land—for a friend: a matter of business; you understand."
"Very well, Mynheer; I will be diplomatic if she asks for more information."
But Harry was as much puzzled by Grootz's attitude as he had been by the lady's.
"So Captain Aglionby is your cousin?" he said to Sherebiah later in the day.
"Ay, to be sure: old feyther's sister's son. A fine loven feller for a coz, bean't he, sir?"
"He has got off too lightly, Sherry."
"Mebbe, but he'll come to his reckonen some day. You mind seein' me trounce un the day arter I shouted for the noble lord?"
"Yes, and you would not tell me the reason."
"Nay, I was 'shamed for my blood. Folks thowt 'twas Rafe as loosed John Simmons. 'Twarn't him; 'twas me."
"You!"