And now the Baron was wilder with impatience than ever. He had questioned Dacres, and found that he could give him no information whatever as to Tozer's route, and consequently had no idea where to search. But he still had boundless confidence in "Yankee Doodle."
"That's the way," said Dacres; "we heard it ever so far, and it was the first thing that told us it was safe to return. We didn't dare to venture before."
Meanwhile Hawbury had got Dacres by himself, and poured a torrent of questions over him. Dacres told him in general terms how he was captured. Then he informed him how Mrs. Willoughby was put in the same room, and his discovery that it was Minnie that the Italian wanted.
"Well, do you know, old chap," continued Dacres, "I couldn't stand it; so I offered to make it all up with her."
"Oh, I see you've done that, old boy. Congrat—"
"Pooh! wait a minute," said Dacres, interrupting him. "Well, you know, she wasn't my wife at all."
At this Hawbury stood utterly aghast.
"What's that?"
"She wasn't my wife at all. She looks confoundedly like what my wife was at her best, but she's another person. It's a most extraordinary likeness; and yet she's isn't any relation, but a great deal prettier woman. What made me so sure, you know, was the infernally odd coincidence of the name; and then I only saw her off and on, you know, and I never heard her voice. Then, you know, I was mad with jealousy; and so I made myself worse and worse, till I was ripe for murder, arson, assasination, and all that sort of thing, you know."
To all this Hawbury listened in amazement, and could not utter a word, until at last, as Dacres paused, he said,