“What is your object in wishing me to do this?” inquired Magdalen.

“My object is twofold,” replied the captain.  “I blush for my own stupidity; but the fact is, I can’t see my way plainly to Mrs. Lecount’s next move.  All I feel sure of is, that she means to make another attempt at opening her master’s eyes to the truth.  Whatever means she may employ to discover your identity, personal communication with you must be necessary to the accomplishment of her object.  Very good.  If I stop that communication, I put an obstacle in her way at starting—­or, as we say at cards, I force her hand.  Do you see the point?”

Magdalen saw it plainly.  The captain went on.

“My second reason for shutting you up,” he said, “refers entirely to Mrs. Lecount’s master.  The growth of love, my dear girl, is, in one respect, unlike all other growths—­it flourishes under adverse circumstances.  Our first course of action is to make Mr. Noel Vanstone feel the charm of your society.  Our next is to drive him distracted by the loss of it.  I should have proposed a few more meetings, with a view to furthering this end, but for our present critical position toward Mrs. Lecount.  As it is, we must trust to the effect you produced yesterday, and try the experiment of a sudden separation rather sooner than I could have otherwise wished.  I shall see Mr. Noel Vanstone, though you don’t; and if there is a raw place established anywhere about the region of that gentleman’s heart, trust me to hit him on it!  You are now in full possession of my views.  Take your time to consider, and give me your answer—­Yes or no.”

“Any change is for the better,” said Magdalen “which keeps me out of the company of Mrs. Lecount and her master!  Let it be as you wish.”

She had hitherto answered faintly and wearily; but she spoke those last words with a heightened tone and a rising color—­signs which warned Captain Wragge not to press her further.

“Very good,” said the captain.  “As usual, we understand each other.  I see you are tired; and I won’t detain you any longer.”

He rose to open the door, stopped half-way to it, and came back again.  “Leave me to arrange matters with the servant downstairs,” he continued.  “You can’t absolutely keep your bed, and we must purchase the girl’s discretion when she answers the door, without taking her into our confidence, of course.  I will make her understand that she is to say you are ill, just as she might say you are not at home, as a way of keeping unwelcome acquaintances out of the house.  Allow me to open the door for you—­I beg your pardon, you are going into Mrs. Wragge’s work-room instead of going to your own.”

“I know I am,” said Magdalen.  “I wish to remove Mrs. Wragge from the miserable room she is in now, and to take her upstairs with me.”

“For the evening?”

“For the whole fortnight.”

Captain Wragge followed her into the dining-room, and wisely closed the door before he spoke again.