'Few rascals in Hamburg don't. She would keep her safe enough for me—it is not a bad idea; but I shall try my luck with her again before resorting to that.'
At the cruelty Dewsnap's suggestion involved, even Ringbolt shook his head dissentingly, and said,
'Whatever you do, steer clear of her husband—the Herr Wyburg, as he calls himself—he is a dangerous and a shady party—worse than the devil himself.'
'You know Hamburg, then, Mr. Ringbolt?'
'Rather!' replied the other, with a wink that inferred a great deal.
If this affair of Ellinor's abduction found its way into any of the social weeklies, it might form a very awkward thing for her; but neither for Sir Redmond or his friend, Mr. Adolphus Dewsnap, as both were now rather out of the social 'scratch race.'
'A pleasant story for the fair Blanche to hear,' surmised Sleath, as he laughingly made up a cigarette.
'Who is she?' asked Dewsnap.
'The daughter of Lord Dunkeld.'
'He is, of course, a topsawyer,' said Dewsnap, superciliously, as, notwithstanding his wealth, he had been rather ignored in society, 'and speaks in the House, I suppose?'