"He has gone, father; though he is very tired," said she.
"I suppose he is; but I don't want to believe that Don John is a thief even over one night," replied the captain.
"He asked me what you wanted of Don John; but I didn't tell him."
The father and daughter discussed the painful suspicion until Donald arrived, and entered the library with Edward. A conversation on indifferent topics was continued for some time, and the boat-builder wondered if he had been sent for to talk about the launch of the Maud, which was now an old story.
"How is the wind, Edward?" asked Captain Patterdale.
"'Sou'-sou'-west, half west," laughed Edward, who understood precisely what his father meant by his question; and bidding Donald good night, he left the library, without the formality of saying he would go and see which way the wind was.
"You know which way the wind is, Nellie; and so you need not leave," added the captain, as she rose from her seat to follow the example of her brother.
"So did Ned, for he told you," she answered.
When Captain Patterdale had private business with a visitor, and he wished any member of his own family to retire, he always asked which way the wind was.
"Don John, you had a great success in the launch of the Maud to-day," said the nabob; but as the same thing had been said half a dozen times before since the boat-builder entered the room, it was hardly to be regarded as an original idea; and Donald was satisfied that the launch was not the business upon which he had been sent for.
"Yes, sir; we got her off very well," he replied. "I was sorry I couldn't launch her with the mast stepped, so as to dress her in the colors."
"In that case, you would have needed the flags of all nations. I have them, and will lend them to you any time when you wish to make a sensation."
"I have here the white cross of Denmark," added the captain, holding up the mended bill.
"A fifty-dollar white-cross," laughed Donald. "I have seen it before."
"Yes, sir; I paid it to Mr. Leach for the Maud's sails since dark," answered Donald, so squarely that the nabob could not help looking at his daughter and smiling.
"He said you paid promptly, which is a solid virtue in a business man. By the way, Don John, you will be out of work as soon as the Maud is finished."