"Put it down so," agreed Dan, stooping to pick up the tongs. "Say that he is not fond of madame, but of Mina, and would like to make her his wife: why does he not go about it in a proper manner; court her openly, speak to her mother; instead of pursuing her covertly like a sneak?" "It may be his way of courting." "May it! It is anything but a right way. He is for ever seeking to meet her on the sly. I know it. He got her out in the garden to-night to a meeting, you say: you and Johnny Ludlow saw it." "Dicky saw it too, and Charlotte got the truth out of him. There may be something in what you say, Dan." "There's a great deal in what I say," contended Dan, his honest face full of earnestness. "Look here. Here's an officer and a gentleman; a rich man, as we are given to believe, and we've no reason to doubt it. He seems to spend enough--Carter saw him lose five pounds last night, betting at billiards. If he is in love with a young lady, there's nothing to hinder a man like that from going in for her openly----" "Except her age," struck in Sam. "He may think they'll refuse Mina to him on that score." "Stuff! I wish you wouldn't interrupt me, Sam. Every day will help to remedy that--and he might undertake to wait a year or two. But I feel sure and certain he does not really care for Mina; I feel sure that, if he is seeking in this underhand way to get her to promise to marry him, he has some ulterior motive in view. My own belief is he would like to kidnap her." Sam laughed. "You mean, kidnap her money?" "Well, I don't see what else it can be. The fellow may have outrun the constable, and need some ready money to put him straight. Rely upon this much, Sam--that his habits are as fast as they can well be. I have been learning a little about him lately." Sam made no answer. He began to look grave. "Not at all the sort of man who ought to marry Mina, or any other tender young girl. He'd break her heart in a twelvemonth." Sam spoke up. "I said to Johnny Ludlow, just now, that it might be better to tell Dr. Knox. Perhaps----" "What about?" interrupted the doctor himself, pouncing in upon us, and catching the words as he opened the door. "What have you to tell Dr. Knox about, Sam? And why are all you young men sitting up here? You'd be better in bed." The last straw, you know, breaks the camel's back. Whether Sam would really have disclosed the matter to Dr. Knox, I can't say; the doctor's presence and the doctor's question decided it. Sam spoke in a low tone, standing behind the drug-counter with the doctor, who had gone round to look at some entry in what they called the day-book, and had lighted a gas-burner to do it by. Dr. Knox made no remark of any kind while he listened, his eyes fixed on the book: one might have thought he did not hear, but his lips were compressed. "If she were not so young, sir--a child, as may be said--I should not have presumed to speak," concluded Sam. "I don't know whether I have done wrong or right."