"The tug--on the water?" Elaine exclaimed.
"On the water--that is usually the place for well behaved tugs!" he laughed.
"Now--before I go to deposit the check!" he smiled. "You will be safer on the tug. There will be no danger of an escape or a rescue--and it won't be for long, I trust."
"Your trust is no greater than ours, I assure you," said Elaine.
Their few things were quickly gathered, and they went down to the wharf, where a small boat was drawn up ready to take them to the tug, which was lying a short distance out in the Bay.
"One of the Baltimore tugs, likely," said Davila. "There are scores of them, there, and some are none too chary about the sort of business they are employed in."
They got aboard without accident. Jones conducted them to the little cabin, which they were to occupy together--an upper and a lower bunk having been provided.
"The maid will sleep in the galley," said he. "She will look after the cooking, and you will dine in the small cabin next to this one. It's a bit contracted quarters for you, and I'm sorry, but it won't be for long--as we both trust, Miss Cavendish."
"I go to deposit the check. I will have my bank send it direct for collection, with instructions to wire immediately if paid. I presume you don't wish it to go through the ordinary course."
"This is Thursday," said Jones. "The check, and your note, should reach the Trust Company in the same mail to-morrow morning; they can be depended upon to wire promptly, I presume?"
"Then, we may be able to release you to-morrow night, certainly by Saturday."
"You don't seem to like our hospitality," Jones observed.
"It's excellent of its sort, but we don't fancy the sort--you understand, monsieur. And then, too, it is frightfully expensive."
"We have done the best we could under the circumstances," he smiled. "Until Saturday at the latest--meanwhile, permit me to offer you a very hopeful farewell."
Elaine smiled sweetly, and Mr. Jones went out.
"Why do you treat him so amiably?" Davila asked. "I couldn't, if I would."
"Policy," Elaine answered. "We get on better. It wouldn't help our case to be sullen--and it might make it much worse. I would gladly shoot him, and hurrah over it, too, as I fancy you would do, but it does no good to show it, now--when we _can't_ shoot him."