Page:Guy Boothby--A Bid for Fortune.djvu/309

Rh "As I was too much occupied thinking of you, papa, I did not notice the direction we were taking, and it was not until the carriage stopped before a house in a back street that I realised that something was wrong. Then the door was opened and a gentleman in evening dress begged me to alight. I did so, almost without thinking.

"'I am sorry to say your father is not at all well, Miss Wetherell,' he continued. 'If you will be good enough to step into my house I will let the nurse take you to him.'

"Like a person in a dream I followed him into the house and the door was then shut upon me.

"'Where is my father, and how is it that he is here?' I cried, beginning to get frightened.

"'You will know all when you see him,' said my companion, throwing open the door of a room. I went in, and that door was also shut upon me. Then I turned and faced the man."

"What was he like?"

"He was the man you were telling us about at dinner—Dr. Nikola."

"Ah! And then?"

"He politely but firmly informed me that I was his prisoner, and that until you did certain things he would be compelled to detain me. I threatened, entreated, and finally wept. But he was not to be moved. He promised that no effort should be spared to make me comfortable, but he could not let me go free. And so I was kept there until late one night, when I was informed that I must be ready to leave the house. A brougham was at the door, and in this, securely guarded, I was conducted to the harbour where a boat was in waiting. In this we were rowed out to a schooner and