So Jack, as the party turned into the road, related the story of the trap that had been sprung on him, and how he had escaped from it.
At the conclusion of the narrative, Mr. Farnum turned around to say to Don:
"Young man, if you have engineered the whole of to-night's plan, I must compliment you on your originality and ingenuity. Nothing but accident prevented you from having a complete triumph."
"Be careful, sir, what you say about my son!" warned George Melville, pompous in his anger.
"As it disturbs you," smiled Farnum, "I won't say any more about it.
The whole business will keep."
The elder Melville, however, pulled Mr. Farnum by the arm until he had him well to the rear of the others.
"Now, Farnum," murmured the capitalist, in a conciliatory voice, "I am ready to admit that it begins to look a bit as though my son may possibly have been a bit reckless. I shall want the truth of it all proved. But, if I am satisfied that Don has been wholly in the wrong in anything that he has done, believe me, I shall be most ready to make the matter right with you."
"Right with me?" repeated the boatbuilder, in amazement "What do you mean by that?"
"Why, I mean, of course, that, if I am convinced that Don has been headstrong and over-zealous—"
"Mr. Melville, listen to me, and understand me fully. It looks as though to-night's business had been engineered on purpose to dissuade Mr. Emerson from investing money in my enterprises. If that is true, it is a matter of conspiracy, and I cannot hold out any hope to you that I shall allow anyone to escape just punishment."