“And when arrangements for such payment is made, honorable people—at least, in the circle of which you and I have been speaking—consider the matter settled and do not refer to it again, either among themselves—or elsewhere.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded again. She did know; Malcolm, evidently, had told her. “Yes, ma’am. That’s the way any decent person would feel—and act—if such a thing happened—even if they hailed from South Denboro.”
He pushed back his chair and stood up. She continued to look him over, much as if she were taking a mental inventory of his character, or revising an old one.
“I hope,” she said, lightly, but with deliberation, “our little argument and—er—slight disagreement concerning—er—duty will not make us enemies, Captain Warren.”
“Enemies! Land sakes, no! I respect anybody’s havin’ opinions and not bein’ afraid to give ’em. And I think I can understand some of how you feel. Maybe if I was anchored here on Fifth Avenue, same as you are, instead of bein’ blown in by an unexpected no’theaster, I’d be feelin’ the same way. It’s all accordin’, as I’ve said so often. Enemies? No, indeed!”
She laughed again. “I’m so glad!” she said. “Malcolm declares he’d be quite afraid of me—as an enemy. He seems to think I possess some mysterious and quite diabolical talent for making my un-friends uncomfortable, and declares he would compromise rather than fight me at any time. Of course it’s ridiculous—just one of his jokes—and I’m really harmless and very much afraid. That’s why I want you and me to be friends, Captain Warren.”
“Sure!” Captain Elisha nodded emphatically. “That’s what I want, too.”
But that evening, immediately after his return to the apartment, when—Caroline having gone to her own room to remove her wraps—he and the butler were alone, he characteristically unburdened his mind.
“Mr. Warren, sir,” said Edwards, “a young gentleman left a note here for you this afternoon. The elevator man gave it to me, sir. It’s on your dressing table, sir.”
The captain’s answer had nothing whatever to do with the note. He had been thinking of other things.