"Oh, certainly."
"Then the sooner that is done the better."
At this moment a soft rap sounded on the door. Constance crossed the room and admitted Nelly, who said in a low tone:
"Mr. Francis Lamotte wishes to see you, Miss. I told him you were particular engaged, just as you told me; but he said to tell you he had just come from his search, and would only detain you for a moment."
Constance paled slightly, and after a moment's thought, said:
"Wait a moment, Nelly." Then she went back and addressed the detective and her aunt.
"It is Francis Lamotte," she said, adding, by way of explanation, to the detective, "the eldest son of Mr. Lamotte, and brother of the young lady who has brought trouble to herself and family. He, Francis, went on Saturday, on a self-imposed search through the surrounding country, in the hopes of finding some trace of these robbers. If he is but now returned he cannot yet have heard of his sister's flight. We cannot let him go away in ignorance, and yet," turning a look of swift appeal upon her aunt, "Aunt Honor, will you lay aside old prejudices and tell him of this sad misfortune?"
Mrs. Aliston looked doubtful for a moment, then a look of satisfied commiseration came into her face as she thought:
"She can't be very much infatuated with him or she would herself undertake this delicate task, and I can afford to pity the poor fellow, since she does not pity him overmuch," hence the strange mingling of pleasure and pity in her face as she said aloud:
"Certainly I will break the news to him, my dear, and as gently as is in my power."