"I hope you would know the scoundrels, Herr Bastable?" said von Felsen.
"What a question!" I answered with another laugh. "Do you think you would, if you had been chloroformed to wake up on a lonely road in the dark miles away from anywhere. They knew their business too well for that."
"Well, I’m sure I congratulate you, Herr Bastable," said von Felsen, with well affected sincerity. "As you say, we don’t exactly hit it in many ways, but a thing of this sort might happen to any of us. It’s monstrous that it could occur. Of course you’ll set the police to work."
I threw up my hands as if it were useless. "I’ve just been with Feldermann and his manner told me what to expect. Without a clue of any sort, what can they do?"
Althea had been watching him very closely, and now turned to him. "You said just now, that you had no doubt of your being able to get to the bottom of it all."
"I shall do everything in my power as it is," he replied uneasily.
"But you spoke of having knowledge that would lead to certain success."
"I made sure it was merely a case of arrest; in which event, of course, my influence would soon have enabled me to ascertain everything."
"I did not take it to be merely that," was the drily spoken reply.
"Well, it’s very good of you, von Felsen," I interposed. "And if you can find the fellows, I’ll prosecute them readily enough."
"You do not know all that has passed, Herr Bastable," said Althea with great deliberation. "And I think you should know."
Von Felsen took alarm at this and said: "As you have returned without my help, I suppose I can do no more. I’ll go." I sauntered over as if to look at a letter lying on a table and got between him and the door.
"You should explain to Mr. Bastable, certainly. Herr von Felsen exacted a pledge from me to do a certain thing on the condition that he secured your return in safety," she added to me, speaking with some little hesitation.
"How could he possibly have done it?" I cried with a smile. "Anyhow, as I have returned in safety and without his help, the pledge may be considered as withdrawn, whatever its nature. That’s quite clear."
He understood that I guessed what the pledge was, and turned at bay. "You may as well know what it was," he said with a scowl. "Fräulein Althea agreed to do what my father wishes--become my wife. You know well enough the many solid reasons there are for that marriage. Herr Borsen told you."