"I know nothing like that," Jimmy declared. "I do, however, know I owe you much. You were the first to warn me where my extravagance led. Now I want to help – "
"Ah," said Laura, "you are generous! I was willing to cheat you and it's plain my father was not your friend."
Jimmy studied her and thought her afraid. In fact, he began to see why she had sent for him. Laura was keen; she knew something, but he imagined she did not know all. Anyhow, he was not going to enlighten her.
"You mustn't exaggerate the importance of the shooting accident," he said. "I and Mr. Stannard used our rifles. The night was dark and I imagined I had hit the warden. I expect Mr. Stannard had no grounds to think the unlucky shot was his. Until recently, the police believed the shot was mine."
Laura was quiet for a few moments, and then with an effort looked up.
"My father knew the rocks; he was a famous mountaineer. Yet when the police sergeant ordered him to stop he went down the bank – "
"After all, his carelessness was not very strange," Jimmy replied. "Mr. Stannard was leader and had borne a heavy strain; in fact, we were all exhausted and our nerve was gone. Then the police came out of the mist, the sergeant shouted, and Mr. Stannard knew they claimed he had shot the warden. He was startled and, so to speak, mechanically stepped back – "
He stopped, for although his object was good, he knew Laura's cleverness. He did not know if he had altogether banished her doubts, but she gave him a grateful look.
"Frank is your friend," she said in a quiet voice. "He wants me to marry him. Are you satisfied I ought not to refuse?"
"Why, of course I'm satisfied," Jimmy declared. "You had nothing to do with the shooting accident; you were my friend before Frank was. I hope we're friends for good. To refuse to marry Frank is ridiculous. Since I'm persuaded, you ought not to doubt."
Laura gave him her hand.
"You are stanch, Jimmy, but I'm tired," she said, and let him go.
In the hall Jimmy met Sir James, who said, "I am going for a quiet smoke. Will you join me?"
"Not for a time, sir. Since I arrived I've been strenuously occupied doing things I ought. Now I'm going to do something I want to do."
"For example?" Sir James inquired.
"I'm going to talk to Margaret. I hope to persuade her to marry me."
"When I suggested our taking a smoke, my object was to inquire about your friendship for Miss Jardine. After all, I am your trustee."
"I hope you approve my plan, sir," Jimmy rejoined.
"You know where to stop," Sir James remarked with a twinkle. "Perhaps my approval carries more weight than you think; because had I not approved, Miss Jardine would not have agreed."
"Then you have talked to her about it?" said Jimmy with keen surprise.
"Not at all; Miss Jardine is not dull. I soon saw she understood my importance, but did not mean to use her charm. Her friendliness was marked by some reserve. In fact, it was plain she acknowledged my business was to judge if she were the girl for you and she would not persuade me. Well, I liked her pride, and although we did not talk about it, I rather think she knew I did approve."
"Thank you, sir," said Jimmy with a grateful look.
Sir James put his hand on Jimmy's arm.
"When I started from Bombay I was bothered about you. Dick had found out something about Stannard and he imagined that Miss Stannard was his accomplice."
"Miss Stannard didn't know Stannard's occupation. She is not accountable for her father."
"That is so," Sir James agreed. "I think Miss Stannard a charming girl, but she was not the girl for you. Leylands are manufacturers and your job is to control a big industry; Miss Stannard's is to cultivate her social talents and amuse herself. Margaret Jardine, however, is our sort. She's stanch and sincere; you know her pluck and all she risked for you. You want a wife like that, and I wish you luck!"
Jimmy found Margaret in the drawing-room. Mrs. Dillon had gone off with Laura, and Jimmy advanced resolutely.
"At Green Lake I asked you to marry me and you refused. Yet you knew I loved you and perhaps I had some grounds to think – "
The blood came to Margaret's skin. "I did know, Jimmy; but to marry you because I stopped the trooper was another thing."
"Now you're ridiculous! All the same, in some respects your refusal was justified. My drawbacks were plain. For all you knew, I was an extravagant wastrel, and the police were on my track. Since I mustn't urge you, I was forced to be resigned."
"Sometimes you are rather dull," Margaret remarked and smiled.
"Well, I'm not forced to try for resignation now. I was something of an extravagant fool, but the police will leave me alone."
"The police were not the obstacle," said Margaret in a quiet voice.
Jimmy laughed. "It looks like that; the trooper who tried to catch us did not bother you long. If Sir James was the obstacle, he's, so to speak, removed. You have conquered him and he declared a few minutes since you were the girl for me. He's a kind old fellow. Don't you think you ought to indulge him?"
He reached down and took her hands. "I want you, Margaret. My extravagance is done with. I'm going back to undertake my proper job and I need your help."
"Then I must try to help," said Margaret, and Jimmy took her in his arms.