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"How is he, father?" asked Nellie, as Captain Patterdale entered the hall. "The doctor thinks he sees some favorable symptoms." "Will he die?" "The doctor thinks he will get over it. But he wants some ice, and I must get it for him." "I suppose you will not go in the Sea Foam now?" asked Donald. "No; it is impossible," replied the captain, as he passed into the dining-room to the refrigerator.
"If they are not as good as anything that ever went on a boat, I'll make you another suit for nothing. I was in hopes you would look them over to-night. I don't want to trouble you, Don John, but I'm a little short of money. Captain Patterdale has a mortgage on my house, and I like to pay the interest on it the day it is due. You said you would let me have the money when the sails were delivered."
He went home with eighty dollars in his pocket, entirely satisfied with himself, with the nabob, and especially with the firm of Ramsay & Son. He did not care a straw about the white cross of Denmark, so long as the bill was good. Captain Patterdale was deeply interested in the bill which bore this mark, and possibly he expected to conquer by this sign.
Captain Patterdale watched the departing and the approaching boats, still considering the possible relation of Laud Cavendish to the tin box. If the fellow had stolen it, he would not go off on an island to stay over Sunday, leaving the box behind to betray him; and this argument seemed to be conclusive in his favor.
The guests had good appetites, and did abundant justice to the feast. The incident of which Laud Cavendish had been the central figure caused some talk and some laughter. "He had the impudence to say he was going to name his boat after me," said Nellie Patterdale. "He don't like the name of Juno." "Does he own the Juno?" asked Captain Patterdale, quietly. "I suppose he does."
The captains of the several craft which had sailed in the race then boarded the Penobscot to ascertain the decision of the judges. "You waxed me badly, Robert," said Ned Patterdale, who was mortified at the defeat of the Sea Foam, though he kept good-natured about it. "I still think the Skylark can't be beaten by anything of her inches," replied Commodore Montague.
However, this was only the shadow of a passing thought, which divided his attention only for a moment. The loss of the tin box was the question of the hour, and "society" topics were not just then in order. "I have no idea that Don John took the box," replied Captain Patterdale. "I am more willing to believe either of the other two who were in the library took it than that he did.
The strain appeared so terrific the consequences of a disaster so appalling. As Vane stepped out of the ambulance Lady Patterdale, supported on either side by one of the nursing staff, advanced to meet him. Her jolly old face was wreathed in smiles; cordiality and kindliness oozed from her. "Welcome, both of you," she cried. "Welcome to Rumfold 'all."
"I can't believe that Don John will ever become a bad man," protested Nellie. "We don't know. 'Put not your trust in princes, in our day and nation, might read, 'Put not your trust in young men." "Why do you say all this, father?" asked Nellie, anxiously. "Has Don John done anything wrong; or is he suspected of doing anything wrong?" "He is at least suspected," replied Captain Patterdale.
"What made you jump so, then?" "A mosquito bit me," laughed Laud. But it was a graveyard laugh. "Leach paid the bill to Captain Patterdale you say?" "Yes, and Captain Patterdale says there is something wrong about the bill," continued Donald, who was far from satisfied with the explanation of his companion. "What was the matter? Wasn't the bill good?" inquired Laud.
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