"I knew that my daughter was here, Herr Bastable. The information came from a highly confidential source. But I was absolutely sure of you."
A glance of appeal from Althea accompanied this courteously worded roundabout refusal to tell me anything more, so I bade them good-night and went away. I was indeed so fatigued that even this strange development, with all the awkward and indeed perilous complications it threatened, could not keep me awake. I slept soundly for many hours, and did not awake until late in the morning.
Over my breakfast Bessie gave me her views of the Baron.
"He is a very strange old gentleman, Paul. His room is next to mine, you know; and I heard him moving about very early, hours before I got up. And when I saw him afterwards he had forgotten who I was, and spoke to me as if I were a servant. What do you make of him?"
"I am probably more puzzled than you are, Bess."
"How did he come here? Did Althea tell him of us?"
"I don’t think so. Has she ever said anything to you about him?"
"Has she said anything to you? She did to me, but I don’t know whether she meant me to tell you."
"About the effect of his troubles upon him, you mean?"
"Yes," she nodded rather eagerly. "I suppose he is harmless."
"Oh yes," I said with a smile. "He’ll be all right in that respect. You needn’t be scared."
"He has a loaded revolver. He left it under his pillow. Ellen was nearly frightened out of her life when she fetched me to see it."
"He came in for it just as we were both there. He was really very odd. He had that little bag of his with him and----"
"What little bag? Did he bring any luggage with him, then?"
"Nothing except the little leather bag. Well, he apologized to us, taking me for one of the servants, as I told you, and declared that the thing was not loaded--although I am sure it was--and made up a story that he was accustomed to have it with him just for practice, and said that we were not to say anything to any one about it; and then he offered us some money."
"It’s no laughing matter, Paul. Ellen declares she can’t stay in the house if he stops here."
"You don’t suppose we took his money. I told him pretty sharply he had made a mistake; but he was so polite and seemed so sorry, that I couldn’t be angry. But you’ll have to do something, or we shall lose Ellen."