On the second morning after their abduction, when Elaine and Davila
arose, the sky was obscured by fog, the trees exuded moisture, and only
a small portion of the Bay was faintly visible through the mist.
"This looks natural!" said Elaine. "We must have moved out to
Northumberland, in the night."
Davila smiled, a feeble sort of smile. It was not a morning to promote
light-heartedness, and particularly under such circumstances.
"Is this anything like Northumberland?" she asked.
"Yes!--Only Northumberland is more so. For a misty day, this would be
remarkably fine.--With us, it's midnight at noon--all the lights
burning, in streets, and shops, and electric cars, bells jangling,
people rushing, pushing, diving through the dirty blackness, like
devils in hell. Oh, it's pleasant, when you get used to it.--Ever been
there?"
"No," said Davila, "I haven't."
"We must have you out--say, immediately after the holidays. Will you
come?"
"I'll be glad to come, if I'm alive--and we ever get out of this awful
place."
"It _is_ stupid here," said Elaine. "I thought there was something
novel in being abducted, but it's rather dreary business. I'm ready to
quit, are you?"
"I was ready to quit before we started!" Davila laughed.
"We will see what can be done about it. We'll have in the head jailer."
She struck the bell. "Ask the chief to be kind enough to come here a
moment," she said, to the girl who attended them.
In a few minutes, he appeared--suave, polite, courteous.
"You sent for me, Miss Cavendish?" he inquired.
"I did. Sit down, please, I've something to say to you, Mr.----"
"Jones, for short," he replied.
"Thank you!" said Elaine, with a particularly winning smile. "Mr.
Jones, for short--you will pardon me, I know, if I seem unduly
personal, but these quarters are not entirely to our liking."
"I'm very sorry, indeed," he replied. "We tried to make them
comfortable. In what are they unsatisfactory?--we will remedy it, if
possible."
"We would prefer another locality--Hampton, to be specific."
"You mean that you are tired of captivity?" he smiled. "I see your
point of view, and I'm hopeful that Mr. Croyden will see it, also, and
permit us to release you, in a few days."
"It is that very point I wish to discuss a moment with you," she
interrupted. "I told you before, that Mr. Croyden didn't find the
jewels and that, therefore, it is impossible for him to pay."
"You will pardon me if I doubt your statement.--Moreover, we are not
privileged to discuss the matter with you. We can deal only with Mr.
Croyden, as I think I have already intimated."
"Then you will draw an empty covert," she replied.
"That remains to be seen, as I have also intimated," said Mr. Jones,
easily.
"But you don't want to draw an empty covert, do you--to have only your
trouble for your pains?" she asked.
"It would be a great disappointment, I assure you."
"You have been at considerable expense to provide for our
entertainment?"
"Pray do not mention it!--it's a very great pleasure."
"It would be a greater pleasure to receive the cash?" she asked.
"Since the cash is our ultimate aim, I confess it would be equally
satisfactory," he replied.
"Then why not tell me the amount?"
He shook his head.
"Such matters are for Mr. Croyden," he said.
"Just assume that Mr. Croyden cannot pay," she insisted. "Are _we_ not
to be given a chance to find the cash?"
"Mr. Croyden can pay."
"But assume that he cannot," she reiterated, "or won't--it's the same
result."
"In that event, you----"
"Would be given the opportunity," she broke in.
He bowed.
"Then why not let us consider the matter in the first instance?" she
asked. "The money is the thing. It can make no difference to you whence
it comes--from Mr. Croyden or from me."
"None in the world!" he answered.
"And it would be much more simple to accept a check and to release us
when it is paid?"
"Checks are not accepted in this business!" he smiled.
"Ordinarily not, it would be too dangerous, I admit. But if it could be
arranged to your satisfaction, what then?"
"I don't think it can be arranged," he replied. "The amount is much too
great."
"And that amount is----" she persisted, smiling at him the while.
"Two hundred thousand dollars," he replied.
"With what per cent. off for cash?"
"None--not a fraction of a penny!"