"But surely there are not £100,000 there?"
"No," said the old gentleman with a chuckle. "There is the counterfeit of £50,000 there; for the rest I propose to show him these."
So saying, he dived his hand into a drawer and produced a sheaf of crisp bank-notes.
"There—these are notes for the balance of the amount."
"But you surely are not going to pay? I thought we were going to try to catch the rascals without letting any money change hands."
"So we are, do not be afraid. If you will only glance at these notes you will see that they are dummies, every one of them. They are for me to exhibit to the man in the boat; in the dark they'll pass muster, never fear."
"Very good indeed," I said with a laugh. "By the time they can be properly examined we shall have the police at hand ready to capture him."
"I believe we shall," the old gentleman cried, rubbing his hands together in delight—"I believe we shall. And a nice example we'll make of the rascals. Nikola thinks he can beat me; I'll show him how mistaken he is!"
And for some time the old gentleman continued in this strain, confidently believing that he would have his daughter with him again by the time 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 to enable us to regain possession of her; and not only that, but we hoped it would give us an opportunity of punishing those who had so schemed against her. Suddenly an idea was born in my brain, and instantly I acted on it.
"Mr. Wetherell," I said, "supposing, when your daughter is safe again, I presume so far as once more to offer myself for your son-in-law, what will you say?"