Mr.Dark was sitting between my mistress (who was looking at him in amazement) and the lawyer (who was looking at him with approval).

He had a map open on his knee, and a pen in his hand.

Judging by his face, the communication of the secret about my master did not seem to have made the smallest impression on him.
"I've got leave to ask you a question," says he, the moment I appeared.
"When you found your master's yacht gone, did you hear which way she had sailed?
Was it northward toward Scotland?
Speak up, young man, speak up!" "Yes," I answered.

"The boatmen told me that when I made inquiries at the harbor." "Well, sir," says Mr.Dark, turning to the lawyer, "if he said he was going to Sweden, he seems to have started on the road to it, at all events.

I think I have got my instructions now ?" The lawyer nodded, and looked at my mistress, who bowed her head to him.
He then said, turning to me: "Pack up your bag for traveling at once, and have a conveyance got ready to go to the nearest post-town.