“Chances? I think the chances for Mervyn are worth just that,”—with a snap of the fingers. “For the girl, it’s just possible that this budmash may give her up, at the price of lakhs of rupees, but who the devil’s going to pay it?”
“The Government?”
“No fear, Government may send an expedition, but that won’t help anybody, but it isn’t going to pay up.”
“Then I am.”
“You are?” with a stare of amazement.
“Certainly. Only too glad to get her back safe at any price, even if it costs me every damn shilling I’ve got in the world.”
Varne Coates looked at his kinsman and whistled.
“So that’s how the cat jumps, is it?”
“That’s how.”