"Did he promise to write to you from America?"
"Yes, he was to write to me directly he landed. He had instructions to give me."
"Do you know of any Southampton friends of Colonel Rannock's?"
"Can't say I do. He has had yachting pals there sometimes in summer, but there wouldn't be any of that sort in March."
"Mrs. Rannock is alarmed at being without letters from her son since last March. Do you consider that an alarming circumstance?"
"Yes, Mr. Faunce, I do. My master was fond of his mother, in his way. He didn't mind victimizing her to the extent of her last sovereign, poor old lady, when he was hard pushed; but he was attached to her, in his way. And I don't think he would have made her unhappy by not writing to her, if it had been in his power to write. I give him that much credit."
"Well, Chater, we shall have to set the cable at work, and find out what we can at Dawson City. And now tell me your opinion of Mrs. Randall, alias Delmaine. You describe her as a bit of a shrew; but do you know if she was really attached to the Colonel?"
"I believe she worshipped him, in her way. I—well, a letter she wrote him after their worst quarrel—the row that parted them for over two years—forced itself on my attention—happening to take it up in a casual way—and I must say it was a letter to melt a stone; but it came just when the Colonel was going all he knew for Lady Perivale, and he took no notice of it."
"And two years after he went back to her. That was weak, wasn't it?"
"I suppose it was, sir. But, after being much with a stuck-up person like Lady Perivale, a spirited, free and easy creature like Kate Delmaine would exercise a fascination."