"Shall I put it more plainly?" continued Captain Wragge. "What do you
say to the universally-accepted maxim that 'all stratagems are fair in
love and war'?--Yes or No?"
"Yes!" answered Noel Vanstone, with the utmost readiness.
"One more question and I have done," said the captain. "Do you see any
particular objection to practicing a pious fraud on Mrs. Lecount?"
Noel Vanstone's resolution began to falter a little.
"Is Lecount likely to find it out?" he asked cautiously.
"She can't possibly discover it until you are married and out of her
reach."
"You are sure of that?"
"Quite sure."
"Play any trick you like on Lecount," said Noel Vanstone, with an air of
unutterable relief. "I have had my suspicions lately that she is trying
to domineer over me; I am beginning to feel that I have borne with
Lecount long enough. I wish I was well rid of her."
"You shall have your wish," said Captain Wragge. "You shall be rid of
her in a week or ten days."
Noel Vanstone rose eagerly and approached the captain's chair.
"You don't say so!" he exclaimed. "How do you mean to send her away?"
"I mean to send her on a journey," replied Captain Wragge.
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