Orton Campbell's eyes sparkled with covetous greed.
"That is a stake worth playing for," he said. "With what I have of my own, it would make me independently rich."
"Just so, Orton," said his father.
"And nothing stands in the way but the caprice of a foolish girl! I declare, father, it is too exasperating. Suppose we try another detective? Your man can't be very sharp."
"I have no objection, Orton," said the merchant, "but as he would be employed in your interest, it is only fair that you should pay the expense incurred."
"I don't see that," said the son. "She is your ward, you know. It ought to come out of her property."
"The item may not be allowed. In that case I should be responsible," said John Campbell, cautiously.
"I'll tell you what I will do, father: if she is found and I marry her, I'll freely pay the whole expense."
"Suppose we find her, and she won't marry you: what then?" asked his father, keenly.
The son looked nonplussed, but finally consented in that case to defray the expense out of his private means—that is, if it could not be taken out of the young lady's fortune.