"No, Mr. Vernon. But I am your aunt's private secretary, and it won't do for me to expose her business, or her motives for doing certain things."
Frederic Vernon looked daggers at Robert, but controlled himself.
"All right, as you please," he said carelessly. "But you may find it to pay to make a friend of me some day."
"I do not wish to be your enemy. But I must do my duty to your aunt," concluded Robert, and a minute later bowed himself away.
When our hero was gone Frederic Vernon grated his teeth.
"He's a clever one," he muttered. "But he shan't get the best of me. He knows all of her business, but he intends to keep it to himself. I must watch my chances and see if I cannot overhear what they talk about from time to time. Hang me, if I don't follow him now!"
And putting on his hat, Frederic Vernon did so. He saw Robert enter the garden attached to Mrs. Cabe's place and join Mrs. Vernon in the summerhouse overlooking the broad river. Taking care so that he would not be seen, he came up close to a tree near the summerhouse. From this point he could hear every word that passed between his aunt and our hero.
CHAPTER XIX.
MRS. VERNON'S BANK ACCOUNT.
"How did you find Frederic?" was Mrs. Vernon's first question when Robert joined her.