"From extremities?" she repeated, the one ominous word alone catching her ear.
Mr. Alfred King looked at her, not speaking. His gaze seemed to ask her how much she knew. She did not respond to it.
"Were this unfortunate matter made public, nothing could save Captain Davenal," he resumed, in a low tone. "He is now in India, in apparent safety, but--in short, it would only be a question of time, two or three months or so. Men are brought from the ends of the world now to answer for--for crime."
Subdued as was his voice Sara looked around in terror. That partition, if nothing more than a partition, was probably a shallow one, allowing sound to pass beyond it.
"Be at ease," he said, detecting her fear, "we are quite alone."
"Do you know Captain Davenal?" she asked.
"Very well indeed. He and I were at one time sworn friends, constantly together. Until this unhappy affair arose to part us."
Perhaps she would have liked to ask the particulars that she did not know. But her whole heart revolted from it; it would have seemed like acknowledging Edward's crime.
"You see his being in India is only a temporary safeguard, and these parties who hold his safety in their hands might bring him home if they chose. It is only in compliance with my urgent entreaties that they have kept passive so long. But the delay is extending itself beyond all reason, and they--in short, Miss Davenal, they will not wait longer."
"But what can I do?" she urged in her helplessness. "I admit that the delay is vexatious--Heaven knows I have felt it so," she added, with a burst of feeling that would not be suppressed--"but the money is there; it will very shortly be forthcoming, and then it will be paid."