"Of course, dearest; poor fellow! he betrays his love by every word and act. But good heaven, Nance, he couldn't marry her!"
"No—I don't know. I suppose not. But Dan will do as he will. To oppose him now would only make him the more wretched."
"Does your mother know?"
"No, and it is best she should not. I don't think she has the faintest suspicion."
"Well, I suppose we had better let things rest awhile;" Tom assented, "but I swear I would like to get at the Oak Parlour and tear the secret out of it."
"We must wait a bit, Tom dear. Let's just be glad now of what we have and are."
And with that he drew her toward him and pressed for a definite answer to the question which so deeply concerned their future.
"When Madame has recovered, when we know all and the mystery is solved," she replied; then she added inconsequently, "I wonder if we shall ever hear of the old Marquis again."
"I wonder too," Tom exclaimed. "Though he has sailed away on The Southern Cross, I doubt if he will willingly leave the treasure behind him."
"That dreadful treasure, Tom," cried Nancy. "I wish to goodness that the Marquis had it and might keep it always. We have each other."