“I inferred so. I am mistaken, then? You are quite sure?”
“Positive of it,” exclaimed Alonzo de Mello. “I was in the house several times during the last fortnight before he went away, with his business affairs to look over and so on. He was alone, I am sure. He always had that air of hiding away by himself. He preferred it.”
“Thank you,” said Teresa. “Mr. Cary must have changed his mind.”
“Who is the young man, may I ask?”
“He was an officer in the Tarragona for a short time. Probably you have never heard his name. I thought Uncle Ramon might have taken him in his steamer for the west coast voyage.”
“I should have known it,” replied the banker. “The last time I saw Ramon he told me that Captain Bradley Duff and the chief engineer were the only American officers on board.”
“A pipe-dream of mine, as you might say!” exclaimed Teresa. The atrocious pun made her feel like giggling with a touch of hysteria. She controlled herself and harmlessly inquired: “Do you know where to find the two servants, if I decide to spend some time here?”
“Then you refuse to stay with us? I am afraid you must let me look for new servants. These two reported that the house was in order and gave me the keys. Where they went is beyond me. Your uncle was to send them word of his return.”
“Never mind, Señor de Mello. I have not yet made up my mind what to do. It is a thing to sleep over.”
He was too courteous to press her with interrogations. She was an independent girl accustomed to her own gait. Something he mentioned quite casually came like a light in the dark.