"And damn my carelessness in letting them pick my pocket! there lies the entire difficulty." "Well, the thing, now, is to save the women--and how?" "Pay, if need be!" exclaimed Croyden. "The two hundred thousand I got for the Virginia Development bonds will be just enough." Macloud nodded. "I'm in for half, old man. Aside from any personal feelings we may have for the women in question," he said, with a serious sort of smile, "we owe it to them--they were abducted solely because of us--to force us to disgorge." "I'm ready to pay the cash at once." "Don't be hasty!" Macloud cautioned. "We have ten days, and the police can take a try at it." "_That_, for the police!" said Croyden, snapping his fingers. "They're all bunglers--they will be sure to make a mess of it, and, then, no man can foresee what will happen. It's not right to subject the women to the risk. Let us pay first, and punish after--if we can catch the scoundrels. How long do you think Henry Cavendish will hesitate when he learns that Elaine has been abducted, and the peril which menaces her?" "Thunder! we have clean forgot her father!" exclaimed Macloud. "He should be informed at once." "Just what he shouldn't be," Croyden returned. "What is the good in alarming him? Free her--then she may tell him, or not, as it pleases her." Macloud held out his hand. "Done!" he said. "Our first duty _is_ to save the women, the rest can bide until they are free. How about the money? Are your stocks readily convertible? If not, I'll advance your share." "Much obliged, old man," said Croyden, "but a wire will do it--they're all listed on New York." "Will you lose much, if you sell now?" asked Macloud. He wished Croyden would let him pay the entire amount. "Just about even; a little to the good, in fact," was the answer. And Macloud said no more--he knew it was useless. At Ashburton, they found Captain Carrington pacing the long hall, in deep distress--uncertain what course to pursue, because there was no indication as to what had caused the disappearance. He turned, as the two men entered. "The detectives are quizzing the servants in the library," he said. "I couldn't sit still.--You have news?" he exclaimed, reading Croyden's face. "I have!" said Croyden, and gave him the letter. He seized it. As he read, concern, perplexity, amazement, anger, all showed in his countenance. "They have been abducted!--Davila and Miss Cavendish, and are held for ransom!--a fabulous ransom, which you are asked to pay," he said, incredulously. "So much, at least, is intelligible. But why? why? Who are Robert Parmenter's Successors?--and who was he? and the jewels?--I cannot understand----"