Now we are all right again, and all we have got to do is to
find out which way the enemy has gone, and then give chase to him." "Mr. Marchdale, what do you think of this new suggestion," said George
to that gentleman. "Pray, excuse me," was his reply; "I would much rather not be called
upon to give an opinion." "Why, what do you mean by that?" said the admiral. "Precisely what I say, sir." "D--n me, we had a fellow once in the combined fleets, who never had an
opinion till after something had happened, and then he always said that
was just what he thought." "I was never in the combined, or any other fleet, sir," said Marchdale,
coldly. "Who the devil said you were?" roared the admiral. Marchdale merely hawed. "However," added the admiral, "I don't care, and never did, for
anybody's opinion, when I know I am right. I'd back this dear girl here
for opinions, and good feelings, and courage to express them, against
all the world, I would, any day. If I was not the old hulk I am, I would
take a cruise in any latitude under the sun, if it was only for the
chance of meeting with just such another." "Oh, lose no time!" said Flora. "If Charles is not to be found in the
house, lose no time in searching for him, I pray you; seek him, wherever
there is the remotest probability he may chance to be. Do not let him
think he is deserted." "Not a bit of it," cried the admiral. "You make your mind easy, my dear. If he's above ground, we shall find him out, you may depend upon it. Come along master Henry, you and I will consider what had best be done
in this uncommonly ugly matter." Henry and George followed the admiral from the breakfast-room, leaving
Marchdale there, who looked serious and full of melancholy thought. It was quite clear that he considered Flora had spoken from the generous
warmth of her affection as regarded Charles Holland, and not from the
convictions which reason would have enforced her to feel. When he was now alone with her and Mrs. Bannerworth, he spoke in a
feeling and affectionate tone regarding the painful and inexplicable
events which had transpired. CHAPTER XXVIII. MR. MARCHDALE'S EXCULPATION OF HIMSELF.--THE SEARCH THROUGH THE
GARDENS.--THE SPOT OF THE DEADLY STRUGGLE.--THE MYSTERIOUS PAPER. [Illustration]

It was, perhaps, very natural that, with her feelings towards Charles
Holland, Flora should shrink from every one who seemed to be of a
directly contrary impression, and when Mr. Marchdale now spoke, she
showed but little inclination to hear what he had to say in explanation. The genuine and unaffected manner, however, in which he spoke, could not
but have its effect upon her, and she found herself compelled to listen,
as well as, to a great extent, approve of the sentiments that fell from
his lips. "Flora," he said, "I beg that you will here, in the presence of your
mother, give me a patient hearing. You fancy that, because I cannot join
so glibly as the admiral in believing that these letters are forgeries,
I must be your enemy." "Those letters," said Flora, "were not written by Charles Holland." "That is your opinion." "It is more than an opinion. He could not write them." "Well, then, of course, if I felt inclined, which Heaven alone knows I
do not, I could not hope successfully to argue against such a
conviction. But I do not wish to do so. All I want to impress upon you
is, that I am not to be blamed for doubting his innocence; and, at the
same time, I wish to assure you that no one in this house would feel
more exquisite satisfaction than I in seeing it established." "I thank you for so much," said Flora; "but as, to my mind, his
innocence has never been doubted, it needs to me no establishing." "Very good. You believe these letters forgeries?" "I do." "And that the disappearance of Charles Holland is enforced, and not of
his own free will?" "I do." "Then you may rely upon my unremitting exertions night and day to find
him and any suggestion you can make, which is likely to aid in the
search, shall, I pledge myself, be fully carried out." "I thank you, Mr. Marchdale." "My dear," said the mother, "rely on Mr. Marchdale." "I will rely on any one who believe Charles Holland innocent of writing
those odious letters, mother--I rely upon the admiral. He will aid me
heart and hand." "And so will Mr. Marchdale." "I am glad to hear it." "And yet doubt it, Flora," said Marchdale, dejectedly. "I am very sorry
that such should be the case; I will not, however, trouble you any
further, nor, give me leave to assure you, will I relax in my honest
endeavours to clear up this mystery." So saying, Mr. Marchdale bowed, and left the room, apparently more vexed
than he cared to express at the misconstruction which had been put upon
his conduct and motives. He at once sought Henry and the admiral, to
whom he expressed his most earnest desire to aid in attempting to
unravel the mysterious circumstances which had occurred. "This strongly-expressed opinion of Flora," he remarked, "is of course
amply sufficient to induce us to pause before we say one word more that
shall in any way sound like a condemnation of Mr. Holland. Heaven forbid
that I should." "No," said the admiral; "don't." "I do not intend." "I would not advise anybody." "Sir, if you use that as a threat--"

"A threat?" "Yes; I must say, it sounded marvellously like one." "Oh, dear, no--quite a mistake. I consider that every man has a fair
right to the enjoyment of his opinion. All I have to remark is, that I
shall, after what has occurred, feel myself called upon to fight anybody
who says those letters were written by my nephew." "Indeed, sir!" "Ah, indeed." "You will permit me to say such is a strange mode of allowing every one
the free enjoyment of his opinion." "Not at all." "Whatever pains and penalties may be the result, Admiral Bell, of
differing with so infallible authority as yourself, I shall do so
whenever my judgment induces me." "You will?" "Indeed I will." "Very good. You know the consequences." "As to fighting you, I should refuse to do so." "Refuse?" "Yes; most certainly." "Upon what ground?" "Upon the ground that you were a madman." "Come," now interposed Henry, "let me hope that, for my sake as well as
for Flora's, this dispute will proceed no further." "I have not courted it," said Marchdale. "I have much temper, but I am
not a stick or a stone." "D----e, if I don't think," said the admiral, "you are a bit of both." "Mr. Henry Bannerworth," said Marchdale, "I am your guest, and but for
the duty I feel in assisting in the search for Mr. Charles Holland, I
should at once leave your house." "You need not trouble yourself on my account," said the admiral; "if I
find no clue to him in the neighbourhood for two or three days, I shall
be off myself." "I am going," said Henry, rising, "to search the garden and adjoining
meadows; if you two gentlemen choose to come with me, I shall of course
be happy of your company; if, however, you prefer remaining here to
wrangle, you can do so."