“The point you raise, Captain,” said Dorothy, “is one I wish to say a few words about. The President cannot get Mr. Drummond released, because the Czar and all his government will be compelled to deny that they know anything of him. Even the President couldn’t guarantee that the Englishman would keep silence if he were set at liberty. The Czar would know that, but your plan would undoubtedly produce Prince Ivan Lermontoff. All the president has to do is to tell the Czar that the Prince is engaged to an American girl, and Lermontoff will be allowed to go.” “But,” objected the Captain, “as the Prince knows the Englishman is in prison, how could they be sure of John keeping quiet when Drummond is his best friend?” “He cannot know that, because the Prince was arrested several days before Drummond was. “They have probably chucked them both into the same cell,” said the Captain, but Dorothy shook her head. “If they had intended to do that, they would doubtless have arrested them together. I am sure that one does not know the fate of the other, therefore the Czar can quite readily let Lermontoff go, and he is certain to do that at a word from the President. Besides this, I am as confident that Jack is not in the Trogzmondoff, as I am sure that Drummond is. Johnson said it was a prison for foreigners.” “Oh, Dorothy,” cried the Captain, with a deep sigh, “if we’ve got back again to Johnson--” He waved his hand and shook his head. The maid opened the door and said, looking at Dorothy: “Mr. Paterson and Mr. Johnson.” “Just show them into the morning room,” said Dorothy, rising. “Captain Kempt, it is awfully good of you to have listened so patiently to a scheme of which you couldn’t possibly approve.” “Patiently!” sniffed the daughter. “Now I want you to do me another kindness.” She went to the desk and picked up a piece of paper. “Here is a check I have signed--a blank check. I wish you to buy the yacht ‘Walrus’ just as she stands, and make the best bargain you can for me. A man is so much better at this kind of negotiation than a woman.” “But surely, my dear Dorothy, you won’t persist in buying this yacht?” “It’s her own money, father,” put in Katherine. “Keep quiet,” said the Captain, rising, for the first time speaking with real severity, whereupon Katherine, in spite of the fact that she was older than twenty-one, was wise enough to obey. “Yes, I am quite determined, Captain,” said Dorothy sweetly. “But, my dear woman, don’t you see how you’ve been hoodwinked by this man Johnson? He is shy of a job. He has already swindled you out of twenty thousand dollars.” “No, he asked for ten only, Captain Kempt, and I voluntarily doubled the amount.”