“Joe!” Gerty exclaimed; “ridiculous!”
“So, Mrs. Seaman? And who wouldn’t be ridiculous?”
“The Webbs wouldn’t. It would be natural, quite in keeping with their way of doing things, and it wouldn’t be ridiculous to suspect them.”
“Now, I think it would,” Coley put his head on one side, and his blue eyes smiled at her. “I do think it would be ridiculous to imagine two staid, respectable ladies putting a man out of the way, against his will. And, if with his consent, why the mystery at all? Why not let the man go off of his own accord,—or, even tell Miss Powell of his wish to break off the affair, and ask her to release him.”
“He didn’t want to be released!” Elsie cried, indignantly, “and you know it, Gert!”
“Of course I know it! No, Mr. Coe, Elsie’s bridegroom never deserted her! I know him well, and I know his devotion to my sister was loyal and faithful.”
“Yes, I know all that, too,” Coley tossed back his hair. “If the Webbs are responsible for his disappearance, it was done without his knowledge or consent.”
“How do you mean?” Elsie exclaimed.
“I mean he was carried off while unconscious.”
“Impossible!”