Mr. Botayne groaned.
"We'll make it as pleasant as we can for you, sir," continued the detective, "if you and the lady'll go back on the ship with us. We'll give him the liberty of the ship as soon as we're well away from land. We'd consider it our duty to watch him, of course; but we'd try to do it so's not to give offense—we've got hearts, though we are in this business. Hope you can buy him clear when you get home, sir?"
"I've sacrificed everything to get here—I can never clear him," sighed Mr Botayne.
"I can!" exclaimed a clear, manly voice.
Millicent raised her eyes, and for the first time saw Jim Hockson.
She gave him a look in which astonishment, gratitude and fear strove for the mastery, and he gave her a straightforward, honest, respectful look in return.
The two detectives dropped their lower jaws alarmingly, and raised their eyebrows to their hat-rims.
"The bank at San Francisco has an agent here," said Jim. "Colonel, won't you fetch him?"
The colonel took a lively double-quick, and soon returned with a business-looking man.
"Mr. Green," said Jim, "please tell me how much I have in your bank?"