"I had my eye on the girl, ever since the colonel died. I saw through Jaspar's plot, and a little bravado made him tell me all about it."
"Good!"
"Just so; and, as they are old clients of mine, why, I could not do less than get them out of the scrape, and remove the stain from the name of the fair heiress."
"How can you do it?"
"That's the point."
"Looks rather complicated."
"Exactly so; but energy and skill will accomplish wonders."
"Very true," replied Vernon, in his usual quiet manner, well knowing that Maxwell would take the alarm if he appeared in the least inquisitive,—so he contented himself with this simple ejaculation.
"Can I trust you still?" said Maxwell, in a low tone, and with an anxious look, after a pause of several minutes.
"I care not whether you trust me or not," replied Vernon, with characteristic indifference.