"Exactly," answered Twomley, "if we could find her. But we can't. She has disappeared."
"Disappeared?" gasped Matt.
"That is the way of it. I went to this English lady in Lafayette, and she received me with astonishment. Several days before a man, professing to be from the ambassador, had called and taken Miss Manners away. We are done, done as brown as a kipper, and a telegram to Washington brought an answer requesting me to hunt up this show and have a talk with you."
Motor Matt was astounded. And so was McGlory.
"Have you any idea who the man was that called on the English woman in Lafayette and took Miss Manners away?"
"No. The Lafayette police are looking for him."
"Have you any idea that Ben Ali is mixed up in the affair?"
"I have, Motor Matt, and a very clear idea. I was ten years in India, and learned the natives there, and their ways. It was for that, I fancy, that Sir Roger asked me to come for Miss Manners. While I was about taking the train at Lafayette, yesterday, I received another message from the ambassador. That message informed me that a telegram had been received from Ben Ali, informing Sir Roger that he again had the girl in his possession, and that she would be delivered to any agent Sir Roger might send after her on payment of ten thousand pounds."
"Fifty thousand dollars!" exclaimed Matt. Then he whistled.
"Old Ben Ali is out for the stuff," muttered McGlory grimly.