"Why, go after her and pretend that we're passengers who have missed her at the landing-stage. He is going on the trip for his health, and we are his valet and medical man looking after him on the voyage. She calls at Southampton for cargo; and you'll dope him a bit, and we shall slip off and leave him."
"It would be a deal easier to drop him in the river."
"Dragen has orders to do nothing of the sort. He's only wanted to be out of the way for a week or two."
"And then turn up and blow the gaff on the lot of us. I know which I'd rather risk," said the doctor.
"And lose half the plunder. The thing's as simple as it can be. Everything has been arranged."
The other man grunted his disapproval, and then they were silent.
I had heard the recital of the programme with infinite relief. Von Felsen had obviously been afraid to proceed to extreme measures, and for that at any rate I thanked him. If he could get me out of the way for a week or two, he would have ample time to complete the plans with which my presence had interfered, and this time he would gain by securing my presence on a liner which after it left Southampton would not touch land again until it reached the other side of the Atlantic.
I decided then not to make any attempt to escape or attract help for the present. And it was fortunate that I did so.
When Dragen returned to the car he told the two men that all was in readiness, and that they were to carry me down to the boat.
On the way I lolled in their arms as limp as a corpse. They handled me pretty roughly, and in getting on to the boat the doctor tripped and flung me on to the little deck in order to save himself from falling.