Pennington pondered and nodded reluctantly.
“A frank question or two, when needed, will have no bad result,” said the adventurer. “And I think if they were applied here and now, we’d come at something of profit, perhaps.”
“I am beholden to you, sir,” said he, a trifle bitterly. Then turning to Ezra he said: “Perhaps you will now tell us how you came to so part with the papers entrusted to you?”
“Is it any great wonder,” said Ezra, “that I did not safeguard a message given me by people who later sought my life?”
He was determined to be as evasive as possible. If he hoped to come to the true depth and breadth of this spy system, he knew that he must meet craft with craft.
Pennington made no reply to this, but continued to sit and watch. The situation must have puzzled him; clearly he did not understand it.
“For my part, I blame you but little,” he said. “It was but a churlish way to treat a messenger.”
There was a short pause; then the spy spoke.
“Might I ask,” he inquired, “who this mysterious person is to whom you confided this paper?”
“As a grandson of Seth Prentiss,” continued Pennington, “I am loth to believe you other than a friend to honesty and good government.”
“And in that,” returned the boy, “you would be right.”
“And was the gentleman to whom you entrusted the paper,” asked he, “of a like inclination?”
“Why, in that case,” and the soldier of fortune laughed good-humoredly, “I don’t think it any great matter. Let us but get word to the gentleman and he’ll take it to Boston himself, perhaps.”
Pennington’s eyes searched Ezra’s face, and the boy replied:
“Perhaps so; I have heard him say that he meant to make his way into Boston before long.”
The hidden meaning of this must have left its trace in Ezra’s voice, for Pennington’s gaze, if it were possible, grew keener.
“That may, perhaps, serve,” said the man. Then he continued: “It so chances that I am left in a most peculiar position by your unexpected connection with this affair, Master Prentiss.” There was concern in his voice as he went on. “It will be difficult for me to explain it to those to whom I must make explanation. And it will be equally difficult for them to understand.”
A thrill ran through Ezra. As plainly as day he read the purpose of the man in his crafty eyes. And, so it flashed upon him, as that purpose would help him in his own, he at once fell in with it.