"It is, indeed!" said Elaine as she saw the table, with its candles and silver (plated, to be sure), dainty china, and pressed glass. "If the food is in keeping, I think we can get along for a few days. We may as well enjoy it while it lasts." Davila smiled. "You always were of a philosophic mind." "It's the easiest way." She might have added, that it was the only way she knew--her wealth having made all roads easy to her. The meal finished, they went back to their apartment, to find the bed turned down for the night, and certain lingerie, which they were without, laid out for them. "Better and better!" exclaimed Elaine. "You might think this was a hotel." "Until you tried to go out." "We haven't tried, yet--wait until morning." A pack of cards was on the table. "See how thoughtful they are! Come, I'll play you Camden for a cent a point." "I can't understand what their move is?" said Davila, presently. "What can they hope to accomplish by abducting us--or me, at any rate. It seems they don't want anything from us." "I make it, that they hope to extort something, from a third party, through us--by holding us prisoners." "Captain Carrington has no money--it can't be he," said Davila, "and yet, why else should they seize me?" "The question is, whose hand are they trying to force?" reflected Elaine. "They will hold us until something is acceded to, the man said. Until _what_ is acceded to, and _by whom_?" "You think that we are simply the pawns?" asked Davila. "Undoubtedly!" "And if it isn't acceded to, they will kill us?" "They will doubtless make the threat." "Pleasant prospect for us!" "We won't contemplate it, just yet. They may gain their point, or we may be rescued; in either case, we'll be saved from dying!" Elaine laughed. "And, at the worst, I may be able to buy them off--to pay our own ransom. If it's money they want, we shall not die, I assure you." "You would pay what they demand?" Davila asked, quickly. "If I have to choose between death and paying, I reckon I'll pay." "But can you pay?" "Yes, I think I can pay," she said quietly. "I'm not used to boasting my wealth, but I can draw my check for a million, and it will be honored without a moment's question. Does that make you feel easier, my dear?" "Considerably easier," said Davila, with a glad laugh. "I couldn't draw my check for much more than ten thousand cents. I am only----" She stopped, staring. "What on earth is the matter, Davila?" Elaine exclaimed. "I have it!--it's the thieves!" "Have you suddenly lost your mind?" "No! I've found it! I've come out of my trance. It's Parmenter's chest." "Parmenter's chest?" echoed Elaine. "I reckon I must be in a trance, also." "Hasn't Mr. Croyden told you--or Mr. Macloud?" "No!" "Then maybe I shouldn't--but I will. Parmenter's chest is a fortune in jewels." "A what?" "A fortune in jewels, which Mr. Croyden has searched for and not found--and the thieves think----"