“You are only bound for Malta, at present,” she said one day. “And you tell me that the business which takes you there may compel you to leave the place directly. My husband will be delighted to know you, and if you will stay with us while you are in Malta you will confer a favour on us both.”
“You are very kind,” said Mr. Cory, “and it would certainly be much pleasanter for us than staying in an hotel. But I could not think of trespassing upon your hospitality to such an extent without making you acquainted with the object of our visit to the place.”
“I do not think that at all necessary.”
“But I do, in justice to you. And as I am sure we can trust you thoroughly, I will at once tell our story to you. You will be interested in it, and will the better realise how it is that Annie is at times so sad and preoccupied. She has had some painful experiences, poor child.”
And forthwith Mr. Cory confided to Mrs. Colbrook the whole history of the diamond robbery and its disastrous consequences, and found her henceforth all that he had expected—sympathetic, kind, discreet, and helpful. To Annie she was as one of the kindest of mothers, and the girl found it a great comfort to be able to talk of her troubles to one who took such a friendly interest in her, and had such firm faith in the truth of all her statements.
At Malta Major Colbrook met his wife on board the steamer, and his attention was speedily directed to the new friends she had made. As soon as he learned Annie’s story and object he was all eagerness to help her, and promised to make some inquiries on Mr. Cory’s behalf respecting the man of whom he was in search.
The day after Malta was reached there was quite a merry party gathered at the house of Major Colbrook, for various friends had dropped in to hear Mrs. Colbrook’s English news, and to congratulate her on her return home. The Corys, on second thoughts, had preferred to put up at an hotel, but readily promised to spend all their spare time with the Colbrooks. They were both feeling somewhat preoccupied, but did their best to present as cheerful a front to strangers as possible.
Inquiries promptly made had resulted in the following information:—The “Merry Maid” had discharged her cargo of Government stores, and had proceeded to Sicily, leaving behind a gentleman who had come out from England as a passenger. This gentleman’s name was Paul Torrens, and it was believed that he was now in Spain. Being aware of the facility offered to criminals by the lack of an extradition treaty between England and Spain, Mr. Cory was inclined to think the supposition correct, but felt reluctant to leave Malta without feeling sure that the man he was tracking had really left the island. Annie hardly knew what to think. At one time she was all anxiety to be gone, and the next moment she was oppressed by an uneasy feeling that to quit Malta at once would be to diverge from the trail. It will, therefore, be readily supposed that their thoughts refused to concentrate themselves on the topics of conversation current in Mrs. Colbrook’s drawing-room. Annie, at last, considering that she had done enough homage to conventionality, rose to leave, asking Mrs. Colbrook to excuse her, as she really did not feel equal to remaining inactive.
“You won’t be offended if I leave you now?” she pleaded in a low voice. “I seem to be wasting my time unless I am making some progress in Harley’s cause, and I am sure my father, for my sake, is just as eager for progress as I am.”
“To be sure, dear child,” said Mrs. Colbrook caressingly. “I can quite enter into your feelings, and would rather help you than hinder you. So don’t consider me at all, but go at once if you really feel that you can employ your time to more purpose.”