He was anxious to avoid the least suspicion on the girl's part that he might be crediting Jean de Courtois with motives which would not pass muster before a jury of cool-headed men so readily as they seemed to have satisfied an impetuous and frightened girl.
"How did your father ascertain that you were in New York ?" he said.
"Oh, it seems that a certain period of residence was necessary before a marriage license could be obtained, and it was unavoidable that my name should be found out by those whom he hired to track me." "But why were you not married under an assumed name ?" "Monsieur de Courtois assured me that such a thing would render the marriage invalid." "He was wrong," said Curtis dryly.

"It subjected you to some small legal penalty, but you would be just as effectually married if you called yourself Jane Smith." "I really think you are mistaken.

Monsieur de Courtois made the most exhaustive inquiries." "Were you not leaving the ceremony to the latest possible hour ?" went on Curtis, divided now between the fear of shocking her and the paramount importance of learning the truth about the curiously scrupulous Jean de Courtois.
"We were to have been married two days ago, but the license was stolen." "So it is rather by accident than otherwise that Lord Valletort and Count Vassilan, who, I take it, is with your father on board the _Switzerland_, have not arrived in time to prevent the marriage--that is, if they were able to prevent it ?" "No, I think not.

Poor Monsieur de Courtois was here this afternoon, and he was jubilant because we had plenty of time, provided we were married this evening." "Where was the ceremony to take place ?" "I--I don't know.

I left everything in the hands of Monsieur de Courtois." A very real and active doubt of the Frenchman's good faith was beginning to peep up in Curtis's mind.