“First of all,” Lawrence resumed, “he takes up my defense, then he must help Carmen, and I think deserved the trouble in which she involved him.  Next he seems to have been moved by my sister’s anxiety.”  He paused and gave Foster a curious quiet smile.  “I wondered what Alice would think of you and hope she was grateful.”

Foster saw Lucy’s interest, and wondered whether he had told more than he meant, but his comrade’s amusement seemed uncalled for, and he rejoined:  “I imagined I’d made it plain that your sister wasn’t the only relative your carelessness alarmed.”

“You did.  The situation wasn’t without its humor, Jake.  After you had embarked on a number of strange adventures on my behalf, it must have been galling to be suspected of having made away with me.  However, I understand that Alice didn’t take this view?”

“She did not,” said Foster shortly, and Lawrence rang a bell.

“Get me a C.P. telegram form,” he ordered the waiter.

The form was brought, and Lawrence filled it up and gave it to the man.  Then he fixed his eyes on Foster and remarked carelessly:  “I’ve sent it in your name, Jake, and not to my father.  I thought somebody had better break the comforting news to him, and briefly stated that you had found me.”

“Oughtn’t you to have added some particulars?” Mrs. Stephen asked.

“On the whole, I don’t think so.  For one thing, Jake’s taciturn modesty rather becomes him, and the charges for an English telegram are high.”

Foster said nothing, but he knew the message had been sent to Alice and Lawrence was satisfied with him as his sister’s lover.  This was something, but Lawrence’s approval might not count for much.

“That’s done with,” the latter resumed.  “Since you didn’t find Daly at Banff, we have to decide if Carmen meant to deceive you and he never intended going there.  I rather think we had better leave it to Mrs. Stephen and Lucy.”

“I imagine she told the truth,” Lucy replied.  “If she had loved the man, she might, after all, have tried to protect him; but a selfish, ambitious girl who found she had been cheated, would be capable of ruining him in a fit of jealous rage.”

“But I didn’t state that she was ambitious and selfish,” objected Foster.

Lawrence’s eyes twinkled.  “You don’t realize all your talents, Jake.  For one thing, you have a gift for narrative, and the portrait you drew of Carmen with a stroke or two was lifelike.  Then, when you met and bluffed her into giving Daly away, you couldn’t have taken a more effective line if you had been an ambassador.  What do you think, Mrs. Stephen?”

“Mr. Foster seems to have used all his advantages and the girl got a shock that found out her weak points.  I believe she meant to ruin her worthless lover.”

“So do I,” Lawrence agreed.  “I expect you have made Jake sorry he was firm, but I’d warned him about Carmen and she doesn’t deserve much pity.  But why did Daly leave England and how did he find out that I’d been at Banff?”