For some minutes afterwards we neither of us uttered a word. Both sat and looked at each other, and I am sure I don’t know who was the more puzzled or confounded.
“That rules the Jesuits out,” I said at length, kicking the bedstead viciously with my foot.
“Quite,” said Casteno. “Unfortunately, it also limits our possibilities of assistance.” Then after a pause he added: “I wonder if Miss Napier will hear of the hole we are in!”
“Why?” I queried fiercely, flushing rosy crimson, for deep in my heart, alas! all my thoughts were still of her.
“Oh! nothing,” he answered.
“That’s rubbish,” I interposed rudely. “You meant something. What was it?”
“Only this: Miss Napier is the kind of champion we want just now,” said Casteno humbly. “You see, we can’t get about for ourselves. We’re cornered. We need somebody with brain and charm to approach people in high places!”
“What about Cooper-Nassington,” I said sternly. “You sent me to him. You relied on him. Look at the result!”
“You forget, though, that he may be in prison like ourselves! Remember, Naylor had a warrant to search St. Bruno’s. Well, as likely as not, he had orders to take up some of the leaders of the Order too. Indeed, at a pinch, they might have arrested the lot of them.”
That was quite possible. I saw it immediately the Spaniard had spoken, and I did not attempt to controvert it.