“Mr. Carter,” said the young man, “this match between my cousin and Ellison was a love match. At all events, it was so on the part of Elsie.”
“Would you have us understand,” asked Nick, “that it was not so on the part of Ellison.”
“Oh, no,” quickly responded the young man. “I did not mean to give you that impression. I have always thought that Ellison was very keen about this matter from the first time that he met Elsie, which is two years ago. But he is the typical Englishman, one of the kind that is never enthusiastic about anything, and who would take his time to turn around and see what the matter was, if a pound of dynamite was exploded at his heels.”
“Was this match approved from the beginning by the parents?” asked Nick.
“By Mrs. Sanborn, always,” replied young Sanborn. “But my uncle never liked it. His objection was only that Ellison was an Englishman, and, if not a nobleman himself, was very closely related to those moving in such circles.”
“Indeed,” continued young Sanborn, “a few deaths, three or four, and Ellison would come into a title and an estate. That he was a man of only small property did not weigh so much with uncle as the fact that Elsie would be taken to England and into a life for which she had not been trained.”
He laughed a little, and then went on:
“But the objection was not serious, for uncle has never denied Elsie anything she wanted, and she wanted Ellison very badly. So she married him.”
“Of course, if Mrs. Ellison wishes to see me,” said Nick, “I will go to her. But, before I do, I should like to ask you some questions as to things I must know, if I am to undertake this search.”
“I will answer anything I ought to,” said young Sanborn.