While the voyagers were taking leave of Captain Ekovetz, who had been so attentive to them, an officer spoke to him in Russian.
"The police have your runaways," added the captain.
"Indeed! Where are they?" asked the doctor.
"At the police office. They came down in the boat from Tver, and were about to take the steamer for Kazan," said the captain, after some further conversation with the officer. "This man will conduct you to the police office."
The party followed him, and in a short time came to the place where De Forrest and Beckwith were held, not exactly "in durance vile," but in the office of the police. The runaways looked decidedly crestfallen.
"This is rather unexpected. I thought you were going only to Moscow; but it appears that you have not even been there at all," said Dr. Winstock.
"No, sir, we have not," replied De Forrest. "I suppose you will think we ran away; but we did not."
"I must acknowledge that the course you have taken is open to that interpretation," added the doctor.
"I knew you would think so," said Beckwith, trying to look honest and innocent.
"Nothing of the sort, sir," continued De Forrest. "We took a cup of coffee at Tver, and then stepped out in the rear of the station to get a sight of the town and the river. The conductor told me the train would not start for fifteen minutes, or I didn't understand him. I don't know which."