They had been home but fifteen minutes when Mr. Fitch arrived. At the moment of his arrival Jasper was in a handsome chamber on the second floor, which had been assigned to his use, preparing himself for dinner. Mr. Fitch was overjoyed at the recovery of his little boy, but he listened with some incredulity to the praises lavished upon Jasper by his wife.
"You don't seem to realize," he said, "that this young hero of yours is a companion and acknowledged agent of a kidnapper."
"Wait till you see him," said Mrs. Fitch, confidently.
Mr. Fitch shrugged his shoulders.
"How the women are carried away by a specious appearance!" he thought. "I am a man of the world, and cooler in my judgment."
Yet when Jasper entered the room he could not help acknowledging that his appearance was very much in his favor. Frank and manly in his looks, he met Mr. Fitch with gentlemanly ease.
"You are the young gentleman who brought back my little boy, I believe," said the father.
"Yes, sir," said Jasper. "I occupy, for the time being, the office of agent of the man who kidnapped him."
"Who is this man?"
"I should be willing to tell you if I had not promised secrecy."