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search, I do them them!
Any more news, my dear?"
"The master and that longlegged slab of a Hatteras went out tonight down the
harbour. The old man brought home a lot of money bags, but what was in 'em was
only dummies."
"I know that, too, my dear. Nicely they was sold. Ha! ha!" She chuckled like
an old fiend, and then began to cut up another pipe of tobacco in the palm of
her hand like a man. She smoked negro head, and the reek of it came out
through the keyhole to me. But the younger woman was evidently impatient, for
she rose and said:
"When do they sail with the girl, Sally?"
"They're gone, my dear. They went at ten tonight."
At this piece of news my heart began to throb painfully, so much indeed that I
could hardly listen for its beating.
"They weren't long about it," said the younger girl critically.
"That Nikola's not long about anything," remarked the old woman.
"I hope Pipa Lannu will agree with her health the stuckup minx I do!" the
younger remarked spitefully. "Now where's the money he said I was to have.
Give it to me and let me be off. I shall get the sack if this is found out."
"It was five pound I was to give yer, wasn't it?" the elder woman said,
pushing her hand deep down into her pocket.
"Ten," said the younger sharply. "No larks, Sally. I know too much for you!"
"Oh, you know a lot, honey, don't you? Of course you'd be expected to know
more than old Aunt Sally, who's never seen anything at all, wouldn't you? Go
along with you!"
"Hand me over the money I say, and let me be off!"
"Of course you do know a lot more, don't you? There's a pound!" While they
were wrangling over the payment I crept down the passage again to the front
door. Once I had reached it, I opened it softly and went
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out, closing it carefully behind me. Then I took to my heels and ran down the
street in the direction I had come. Enquiring my way here and there from
policemen, I eventually reached home, scaled the wall, and went across the
garden to the morningroom window. This I opened, and by its help made my way
into the house and upstairs. As I had expected that he would have gone to bed,
my astonishment was considerable at meeting Mr Wetherell on the landing.
"Well, what have you discovered?" he asked anxiously as I came up to him.
"Information of the greatest importance," I answered; "but one other thing
first. Call up your housekeeper, and tell her you have reason to believe that
one of the maids is not in the house. Warn her not to mention you in the
matter, but to discharge the girl before breakfast. By the time you've done
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that I'll have changed my things and be ready to tell you everything."
"I'll go and rouse her at once; I'm all impatience to know what you have
discovered."
He left me and passed through the green baize door to the servants' wing;
while I went to my bedroom and changed my things. This done, I passed into the
study, where I found a meal awaiting me. To this I did ample justice, for my
long walk and the excitement of the evening had given me an unusual appetite.
Just as I was cutting myself a third slice of beef Mr Wetherell returned, and
informed me that the housekeeper was on the alert, and would receive the girl
on her reappearance.
"Now tell me of your doings," said old gentleman.
I thereupon narrated all that had occurred since I left the study in search of
my pipe how I had seen the girl listening at the door, how I had followed her
into the town; gave him a description of old Sally, the maid's interview with
her, and my subsequent return home. He listened eagerly, and, when I had
finished, said:
"Do you believe then that my poor girl has been carried off by Nikola to this
island called Pipa Lannu?"
"I do; there seems to be no doubt at all about it."
"Well then, what are we to do to rescue her? Shall I ask the Government to
send a gunboat down?"
"If you think it best; but, for my own part, I must own I should act
independently of them. You don't want to make a big sensation, I presume; and
remember, to arrest Nikola would be to open the whole affair."
"Then what do you propose?"
"I propose," I answered, "that we charter a small schooner, fit her out,
select half a dozen trustworthy and silent men, and then take our departure
for Pipa Lannu. I am well acquainted with the island, and, what's more, I hold
a master's certificate. We would sail in after dark, arm all our party
thoroughly, and go ashore. I
expect they will be keeping your daughter a prisoner in a hut. If that is so,
we will surround it and rescue her without any trouble or fuss, and, what is
better still, without any public scandal. What do you think?"
"I quite agree with what you say. I think it's an excellent idea; and, while
you've been speaking, I too have been thinking of something. There's my old
friend McMurtough, who has a nice steam yacht. I'm sure he'd be willing to let
us have the use of her for a few weeks."
"Where does he live? far from here?"
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