“You know, I presume, the cause of his imprisonment?” she asked, shifting her chair so that she could look him more directly in the face.
“Not fully. It is on suspicion of being concerned in a robbery at Mr. Leonard’s.”
“It is on account of his having a small piece of the stolen goods,” she said. “I have learned where he got the silk. You have seen this before, Mr. Powers?” She displayed the fatal bow, which again had fallen into her possession.
“I can’t say that I have,” he replied, looking at it very closely.
She rose to her feet, her large eyes scanning him from head to foot. He sat unmoved, with no trace of feeling or confusion in his face.
“You know better,” she cried, indignantly. “You gave it to John Elkton, as I happen to know. You will permit that man to languish in prison, rather than come up and acknowledge the truth. You must be seriously afraid of the truth in this matter, Mr. Powers. But there is nothing hinders me from speaking. I owe you no gratitude.”
“There is one thing that should hinder you,” he quietly replied.
“The fact that all you are saying now is pure guesswork. Your lover has told you nothing of the kind; and cannot, for it is not the truth. Let me advise you, Miss Arlington, not to be too ready to jump to conclusions in the future.”
“I will bid you good-evening, Mr. Powers,” she replied, with dignity. “I see that there is no use to prolong our conversation. I have learned all I desired.”
He smiled derisively as she left the room. In a moment more she was on the street.
She walked slowly down toward her present home. She was staying with a friend in the city now, having left her home after her stormy interview with her guardian.
A familiar voice at her elbow caused her to turn.
There stood Willful Will, a smile of welcome on his face.
“Glad to see you,” he said. “Late in the city to-night.”
“Yes. I am on a visit here,” she replied.
They walked along together, engaged in conversation. Will was insensibly drawn into a description of his late discovery of a father and of his hopes of yet finding his lost sister. Jennie was greatly interested in his romantic story, and joined earnestly with him in the hope that he would yet succeed in finding his sister.