He had been in the drawing-room but a moment or so when the Professor and Will rushed in, each very excited.
"Doctor!" cried Will, "what do you suppose the Count has done?"
"I don't know, I'm sure. What's the matter?"
"Well, by Jove, if he hasn't padlocked our cables, and very coolly informed us that we cannot sail until he gives us permission!"
"What can he possibly mean!" exclaimed the Doctor in well-assumed astonishment. "We must see about this matter. Where is he?"
"We left him at the globe," said the Professor. "I cannot comprehend the meaning of this. Let us go at once and see him."
"Surely he must be joking you," said the Doctor, as they walked rapidly toward Silver Cloud.
They found a group standing beneath the globe; and, as Will had said, every anchor and cable was heavily padlocked. Dr. Jones stepped briskly up to Count Icanovich and said with all the sharpness he could command: "What is the meaning of this, Sir Count? Why have you padlocked these cables?"
"Evidently I could have but one object; to prevent your casting them off."
"Simply the right of might. But come," said he, looking over the company, "let us talk this matter over together. Shall we return to the castle?"
"Suppose we ascend to the cabin," said the Doctor. "There we can talk without interruption."
So, two by two, they all ascended to the sittingroom of the cabin. The Doctor and Count were the first to go up.
"I shall make a great demonstration of anger, and may talk pretty sharply, Count, but you will know my meaning," said the former, as they landed in the engine-room.
"I perfectly understand; act your part, Doctor."
When they were all seated in the sittingroom, the Doctor immediately reiterated the question:
"What is the meaning of this high-handed proceeding, Count Icanovich?"
"It simply means that I cannot consent to let you go at present, Doctor Jones."
"And do you really mean to detain us by force?"
"Will you kindly tell us your object, and by what authority you dare to delay a United States' expedition? Do you not know that our Government will demand heavy reprisals for this action upon your part?"
"Allow me to answer your first question. When you landed among us a few days ago, you found us a despairing lot of invalids. We were simply waiting death as the only possible escape from our pains and distress. The change that you have brought about by your medical skill and knowledge is known to you all, and I need not dwell upon it. Our hearts are bursting with gratitude, and it pains me beyond measure to be thus obliged to use coercion; but my daughter's interests--her life--compel me to detain you. She declares that she cannot live if the Doctor leaves her, and I cannot and will not permit her only chance of recovery to thus fly away in the air. She is all I have on earth, and I swear that you shall stay until she consents to let you go."