"Yes, Mr. Thornton," Gilbert went on. "Can you tell me if he sailed by the St. Louis on the 21st?"
"Are you a friend of Mr. Thornton's?" inquired the clerk, in an eager voice.
"In a sense, yes," replied Gilbert. "But you have not answered my question."
"In a sense," said the clerk, repeating Gilbert's first words; then he continued, "I have a most special reason for asking if you are a friend of his. What do you mean, sir, by saying that you are a friend of his in a sense?"
"Well, I am engaged to his daughter. She expected to see her father some days ago, but he has not arrived. She knew he intended sailing from New York on the 21st, though she only knew of it yesterday. She became alarmed on not seeing him or hearing from him, and she cabled to his agent in Vancouver, and in that way learned that her father was to have sailed on the 21st. She asked me to make inquiries. I shall be glad if you can help me. Can you tell me if Mr. Thornton sailed on the St. Louis or not?"
"Mr. Thornton," answered the clerk, in a queer, half-frightened voice, "did sail by the St. Louis!"
"What! Are you sure of that?"
"Absolutely."
Gilbert had a staggering sense that he was on the edge of some extraordinary affair, and he gazed earnestly at the clerk, who looked at him with corresponding intentness.
"Have you anything more to tell me?" asked Gilbert.