"
"And what was your hurry, Roger?"
"Anxiety to do you credit, Uncle Francis."
"You are becoming a dutiful nephew damned suddenly," observed Sir
Francis.
"It has come on during this lonely life," I explained.
"In that case what shall we do with ourselves this morning? Revisit the
scene of last night's affair, eh?"
"I thought a walk in the other direction might give you a better idea of
this interesting island," I suggested.
"Is there anything to see in the other direction?" he enquired, still
with the same gravity, but with an eye that inadvertently twinkled every
now and then.
"I thought of presenting you to the proprietor of the island, sir."
My uncle looked at me fixedly for a moment and then abruptly enquired:
"Do you mean to marry her, Roger?"
"That's entirely for her to say, Uncle Francis."
"Well, you'll be deuced lucky if she says 'yes'! By the way, what are you
going to marry on?"
This was a somewhat delicate question but I thought it best to be candid.
"The advertised reward," I replied.
"For what, may I ask?"
"For catching the spy."
"Oh, _you_ claim that!"
"No, she does."
My uncle smiled beneficently.
"That's all right, old fellow," said he, "and I'll intimate as much to
her father. Come on! Now you've shaved, what are you waiting for?"
"Your blessing, sir; but I'm ready now.
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