“You certainly would.”
“But, Mr. Carter, he must know that he cannot carry off that marriage, with you and I both at hand to prevent it. He must know that we would not permit it to take place, no matter what the consequences might be.”
“One would think so; but—well, perhaps he intends, somehow, to forestall us.”
“Forestall us? How could he do that?”
“Oh, I don’t know; only, perhaps, if the marriage had actually taken place, and there was no help for it, you and I might both think that it would be the better way to leave things alone. While we might, and would, prevent such a thing, if we had the time and the opportunity, we might both of us feel disinclined to interfere after it had actually happened.”
“I understand what you mean.”
“Well, just what do you think I mean?”
“That he was only playing you to gain time, and that he will, if he can do it, induce Lenore to run away with him, and be married. Only there wouldn’t be any earthly reason for such a thing as that, when he is already the accepted suitor. No; it isn’t that. It is something else, and I think I can guess what it is.”
“What, then?”