But all this happened afterwards and is beyond the limits of this story. Kidd played a losing game, in which he staked his life and reputation. What right have we to heap calumny upon his memory? Let him wend his own wicked way alone, while we return to the fortunes of the Red Band. CHAPTER XXV. THE EFFECT OF KIDD’S VISIT During the next forenoon I had no opportunity to go to Yorke. Nor did I feel the duty quite so necessary now that I thought Louis had been beforehand in the matter of warning the governor. For a long time that morning the patroon and I were closeted together. He had begun to suspect the dwarf himself and the suspicion irritated him beyond measure. At last he suggested plainly that Louis must be aware of his motive in garrisoning the fort. “But,” said I, sure at last that my own suspicions were correct, “why should a knowledge of your motives take him to Yorke?” The patroon flushed with anger when he discovered how carelessly he had disclosed his secret. There seemed to be a moment’s hesitation in his mind as to what to do, but he saw plainly that I now understood the whole situation clearly. Patroon Van Volkenberg was a man who always acted with decision and at once. He saw that there was no use to brazen it out, and so he made a clean avowal. “I took you for a man of sense, but I see that you are a fool.” I had had too long a time of training in keeping cool under adverse circumstances to mind a little fling like this. “Your words to me yesterday on the way,” I said. He snapped his fingers. “Mere practice. I wanted someone to practice on, otherwise I should have laughed in Bellamont’s face.” This taunt was a home thrust, the more so since I had been completely taken in at the time. “Well,” said I, with a hint of sarcasm in my voice, in spite of my desire not to rouse him yet. “If Louis knows this I should say that you—” “What of me?” “That you are in a bad way.” “True,” he answered, totally unmoved. “I have been in a bad way for a long time; but I have the Earl on the hip now.” “He has the deed to your estate.” “I shall get it back. I gave him that to win his confidence. I never thought he would swallow such an open bait. I took so many men with me because I thought he would order my arrest. If I had known what a gull he would prove I should have got inside the fort with half the number. But the best is yet to come. Be ready to-night to go with me to Webber’s tavern. I expect great news, glorious news; news that will shake Yorke to its foundation. In the meantime I must look for Louis.”