“Surely your leave is not up? You have only just come home. May I ask if you are going alone?”
“I would much rather not talk about myself,” he answered hurriedly.
“Then let us talk of Mr. Gaunt. Is he accompanying you to West Africa?”
Captain Drake did not answer and she grew more insistent.
“And is your destination the Congo?” she persisted.
Perhaps it was intuition coupled with her woman’s wit that made her ask the question. There was the fact that Gaunt was evidently making preparations for a long absence; and she remembered the determined way in which he was fighting for the cause of the Congo natives. Now there was Captain Drake’s hurried departure and when she saw his hesitation her conjecture seemed to be verified.
“So Mr. Gaunt is going with you to the Congo?” she insisted.
“I wish you would not ask me these questions, Lady Ethel. I hate to refuse you but already I have been indiscreet. I would willingly tell you everything but in honor I am bound to silence,” he said earnestly.
“You have answered me, and I wish to know what it means. You must be aware that my sister and Mr. Gaunt have quarreled, and if he goes away for a long time, their estrangement may be forever. It is this mystery which is the cause of everything. Tell me the reason that compelled Mr. Gaunt to force this scandal upon us. He did force it, for at a word from him the whole thing would have subsided. If only my sister knew his motive, I believe that she would go to him and ask for forgiveness.”
Captain Drake was moved, for he could see that she was greatly disturbed, and for the moment he was tempted to tell her everything. But the temptation was thrust aside, and his face became stern.