Then his heart began to beat as Alice appeared in the arch.  Her figure was silhouetted against the light and he noted how finely she held herself and moved.  Still he could not see her face and waited with some uneasiness until she advanced and gave him her hand.

“I hoped you would come,” he said.  “But I was half afraid——­”

Alice smiled and as she turned her head the fading glow touched her face.  It gave no hint of resentment or surprise.

“That I would not come?” she suggested.  “After all, I really think men are more conventional than we are.  But why did you not let John bring you in?”

“When I was last here, I noted a change in your father’s manner.  That is one reason, though there are others.  Then I must go in two or three minutes.”

Alice looked at him steadily and he knew that frankness was best.

“You mean you thought he had lost his confidence in you?”

“I was afraid he might find it getting strained.  He seemed disturbed.”

“He is disturbed,” Alice said quietly.  “We have heard nothing from my brother yet.”

“One can sympathize with you, but I don’t think you have much ground for uneasiness.  Lawrence was told he must be careful, but that was all, and there’s no likelihood of his health’s suddenly breaking down.  Then I understand he was rather irregular about writing home; he forgot now and then.”

“He did forget,” Alice agreed and fixed her eyes on Foster while a slight flush crept into her face.  “Perhaps I had better say I do not altogether share my father’s anxiety.”

Foster felt a thrill, for he thought she meant she had not lost her confidence in him.

“I’d like to go back and look for Lawrence, but can’t do so yet,” he said.  “For one thing, it might put Daly on his track and it’s now important that he shouldn’t meet Lawrence in Canada.  There have been developments; in fact, I have come to think Daly had something to do with sending the packet I took to Newcastle.”

“Then Miss Austin was in the plot against my brother and made use of you?”

“No; she certainly made use of me, but I imagine others made use of her.  There is a plot, but I don’t relieve she knew anything about it.”

“I suppose you feel you must defend the girl?”

“In a way,” Foster agreed.  “Carmen Austin is a friend of mine; but I’m not sure she really needs defending.  Anyhow, if I’d known what was in the packet, I wouldn’t have taken it.”

“Then you have found out what was in it?”

“I have a suspicion.  I’m going to see how far it’s justified, and if I’m fortunate, rather think the people who sent me to Newcastle will be sorry.”

Alice said nothing for a few moments, but he thought she grasped the significance of his hint that he was willing to spoil the plans of Carmen’s friends.  He did not know if this gave her any satisfaction, but did not expect her to show her feelings.