As a matter of fact, he once had
admired Scoville, but that was before he came to look upon him as a
menace. He would make a capital husband for any girl in the world,
except Maud. He could say that much for him, without reserve.
He thought hard until half-past one and then went to the wireless
office, where he wrote out a message in cipher and directed the
operator to waste no time in relaying it to his offices in Paris. His
wife was right. It would be the height of folly to offer Scoville
money and it would be even worse to inspire the temporary
imprisonment of the young man.
But there was a splendid alternative. He could manage to have his own
daughter abducted,--chaperon included,--and held for ransom!
The more he thought of it the better it seemed to him, and so he sent
a cipher message that was destined to throw his Paris managers into a
state of agitation that cannot possibly be measured by words. In
brief, he instructed them to engage a few peaceable, trustworthy and
positively respectable gentlemen,--he was particularly exacting on
the score of gentility,--with orders to abduct the young lady and
hold her in restraint until he arrived and arranged for her
liberation! They were to do the deed without making any fuss about
it, but at the same time they were to do it effectually.
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