His own knowledge
of Mrs. Lecount told him that this view of the case was the right one.
"If _we_ go away again," proceeded the captain, "nothing will be gained,
for nothing would persuade your housekeeper, in that case, that we have
not left you the means of following us. _You_ must leave Aldborough this
time; and, what is more, you must go without leaving a single visible
trace behind you for us to follow. If we accomplish this object in the
course of the next five days, Mrs. Lecount will take the journey
to Zurich. If we fail, she will be a fixture at Sea View, to a dead
certainty. Don't ask questions! I have got your instructions ready for
you, and I want your closest attention to them. Your marriage with my
niece depends on your not forgetting a word of what I am now going to
tell you.--One question first. Have you followed my advice? Have you
told Mrs. Lecount you are beginning to think yourself mistaken in me?"
"I did worse than that," replied Noel Vanstone penitently. "I committed
an outrage on my own feelings. I disgraced myself by saying that I
doubted Miss Bygrave!"
"Go on disgracing yourself, my dear sir! Doubt us both with all your
might, and I'll help you.
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