“Jem.”
It was not calculated to throw any definite light on the subject.
“Mother, whom do you suspect? There must be some one who could be reasonably supposed to have had a hand in this for it is plain she has been abducted. She never left this of her own accord.”
“Alas! my son, there is one whom I suspect, though I am loth to mention his name. It is one whom I suspected to be a villain from the time I first saw him.”
“Who is it? No one whom I know? Speak!”
“No, my son; it is one whose name, in all probability, you have never heard. It is the British officer named Preston, who commands the detachment which is stationed at the house of Mr. Tappan.”
“Then you suspect this ‘foreign gentleman’ of having done this foul thing? Tell me why, for, if you can make out a clear case, I will shoot him like a dog the first time I meet him. Yes, shoot him even if I have to lie in wait for him, by day and night.”
The calm, desperate tone in which this was uttered, caused the widow a shudder. Mrs. Vale seemed to be terrified, and raised her hand to deprecate such a threat, while she continued the explanation which had been interrupted.
“Do not talk so of blood, John. Remember the divine command, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay it.’ If you can but rescue her from the hands into which she has fallen, it will be sufficient for us to rejoice at. These are my reasons for suspecting Preston:—Having caught sight of Catherine when he stopped to search the house for rebels, he renewed the visit through a pretense which, unfortunately, was afforded him. Though he received little encouragement, again and again he returned. A few days ago he was here, when Kate and he had some conversation which did not appear to suit him, for he left apparently in high dudgeon. Since then I have not seen him. Who else could have caused the deed to be done I scarce can conjecture. That, John, is all I have to tell. Do nothing rashly, for remember I speak nothing with perfect confidence.”
“Fear not but that I shall act with all prudence. I will search high and low for her, but I will find her.”