I am not a poor man, Mr.
Skinner, and I should certainly be willing to recognize that in taking her away from you I laid myself under considerable obligations." Chayne spoke with some natural hesitation, but Garratt Skinner was not in the least offended.
"I will not pretend to misunderstand you," he replied.

"Indeed, I like your frankness.

Please take what I say in the same spirit.

I cannot give you any help, Captain Chayne." "Why ?" Garratt Skinner raised himself upon his elbow, and fixing his eyes upon his companion's face, said distinctly and significantly: "Because Sylvia has her work to do here." Chayne in his turn made no pretence to misunderstand.

He was being told clearly that Sylvia was in league with her father and Captain Barstow to pluck Walter Hine.