"Well," suggested Batley, "suppose we go into the smoking end of the car. I dare say you'd like a talk and it's rather noisy here. Besides, the cinders are a little too plentiful." They went in and Batley, lounging in a seat, lighted a cigar and waited with an amused expression for the other to begin. Gladwyne was intensely uneasy. It had been a vast relief to be free from his companion, and the last thing he desired was that Batley, who was a remarkably keen-witted man, should go over the track of George's expedition in company with Lisle. "Now," he said, "I'd be glad if you would tell me exactly why you followed me. The reason you gave didn't seem sufficient." "Then my other object ought to be clear. You're carrying a good deal of my money; I felt it would be wiser to keep an eye on you. As I said, I'd had a stroke of luck that enabled me to get away." "I suppose that means somebody has suffered!" Gladwyne, in his bitterness, could not help the injudicious sneer. "Oh, no," returned Batley good-humoredly. "In this case, I'd set a man on his feet--it's now and then as profitable as pulling one down, and my methods aren't always destructive. The fellow was straight and I'm inclined to believe he was grateful. I don't think he could have found anybody else to back him, but I'm not afraid of a risk." He paused and smiled at his companion. "Sometimes I make mistakes; I did so with you." Gladwyne flushed, but Batley proceeded: "I may remind you that when I financed you I was led to believe that you would succeed to a handsome property; not one that was stripped of its working capital. I'll give you credit for misleading me rather cleverly. All this is to the point, because it explains my watchful attitude. You're the kind of man I prefer to keep in sight." Disgust, humiliation and anger possessed Gladwyne, but he knew that he was in his companion's hands, and he did not think that Batley had stated all of his reasons yet. It was possible that he expected to discover something in British Columbia that would strengthen his hold on his victim. "Well," he replied with an attempt at calmness, "we needn't quarrel, since it looks as if we'd have to put up with each other for some time. Have you finished what you have to say?" "Not quite. There's one question yet. When do you expect to marry Miss Gladwyne?" "What is that to you?" Clarence broke out. "Just this--I'm anxious to form some idea as to when I'm likely to get my money back. Since Miss Crestwick dropped you, there's only Miss Gladwyne available, so far as I know, and you have got to marry money and do so pretty soon. I'm willing to do anything that may help on the match." Gladwyne's face burned, he looked savage, but Batley continued to watch him with an ironical smile. "I don't want to drive you too hard, but I'm only stating an obvious fact," he concluded. "Now I'll leave you to think it over while I interview the porter of the sleeping-car." CHAPTER XXVIII