The signorina saw the inspiration in my eye. She jumped up and came to me.
“Have you got it, Jack?” she said.
“I think so—if you will trust yourself to me, and don’t mind an uncomfortable night.”
“Go on.”
“You know my little steam launch? It will be dark to-night. If we can get on board with a couple of hours’ start we can show anybody a clean pair of heels. She travels a good pace, and it’s only fifty miles to safety and foreign soil. I shall land there a beggar!”
“I don’t mind that, Jack,” she said. “I have my five thousand, and aunt will join us with the rest. But how are we to get on board? Besides, O Jack! the President watches the coast every night with The Songstress—and you know she’s got steam—Mr. Carr just had auxiliary steam put in.”
“No,” I said, “I didn’t know about that. Look here, Christina; excuse the question, but can you communicate with the President?”
“Yes,” she said, after a second’s hesitation.
This was what I suspected.
“And will he believe what you tell him?”