“With your permission!” he said, and taking two handkerchiefs from his pocket, he bound the eyes of both.
“It is only for a short while,” he explained—“matter 286 of an hour or so, and you suffer no particular inconvenience, I trust.”
Neither Elaine nor Davila condescended to reply.
After a moment’s pause, the man went on:
“I neglected to say—and I apologize for my remissness—that you need fear no ill-treatment. You will be shown every consideration—barring freedom, of course—and all your wants, within the facilities at our command, will be gratified. Naturally, however, you will not be permitted to communicate with your friends.”
“How nice of you!” said Elaine. “But I should be better pleased if you would tell us the reason for this abduction.”
“That, I regret, I am not at liberty to discuss.”
“How long are we to remain prisoners?” demanded Davila.
“It depends.”
“Upon what?”