And for some time the old gentleman continued in this strain, confidently believing that he would have his daughter with him again before morning came. Nor was I far behind him in confidence. Since Nikola had not spirited her out of the country my plot seemed the one of all others that would enable us to get possession of her again; and not only that, but would give us the opportunity of punishing those who had so schemed against her. Suddenly an idea was born in my brain, and I acted on it instantly.
"Mr. Wetherell," I said, "supposing, when your daughter is safe with you again, I presume so far as again to offer myself for your son-in-law—what will you say?"
"What will I say?" he cried. "Why I will say that you shall have her, my boy. I know you now, and since I've treated you so badly, and you've taken such a noble revenge—why I'll make it up to you for it all, or my name's not Wetherell. But we won't talk any more of that till we have possession of her; we have other and more important things to think of. What time ought we to start to-night?"
"The letter fixes the meeting for ten o'clock; we had better be in the boat by half-past nine. In the meantime I should advise you to take a little rest. By the way, do you think your footman realises that you have the money?"
"He ought to, for he carried it up to this room for me; and, what's more, he has applied for a holiday this afternoon."
"That's to carry the information. Very good; everything is working excellently. Now I'm off to rest for awhile."
"I'll follow your example; in the meantime I'll give orders for an early dinner."
