“No; but I won’t borrow trouble.”
“There is no occasion to do so. You have a friend in Obed Flint.”
“Thank you,” said Ben gratefully. “If I need a friend there is no one I would sooner apply to than you.”
This was the form of telegram which Ben sent to Basil Wentworth:
“Mrs. Harcourt is dead. Will you come on? She instructed me to send for you.”
This telegram, after some consideration, Ben signed “Edwin” as he could not explain that he had no claim to this name. The explanation would come later on.
He received an answer the same day. It ran thus:
“Edwin Harcourt:
“I will sail by the next steamer. Accept my sympathy.
“Basil Wentworth.”
“You have done all you could, Edwin,” said the general. “There is nothing to do but to wait till Mr. Wentworth arrives.”
“Will you stay also?” asked Ben anxiously.