De Senlac nodded vigorously and gave a high-pitched chuckle. His obvious approval of her horrifying deeds suddenly brought home to them that he was neither more nor less than a gallows bird in fine plumage; but they swiftly concealed their revulsion, and soon after were again counting themselves lucky that avarice had decided him to protect them from his following of brutal desperadoes.
They were allowed to pack a portmanteau each to take ashore, and Lucette did not prove ungenerous in the things she allowed them to select. Then they followed their luggage into the boat that had brought the Vicomte off, and were rowed to a small jetty below the house. It was November the 28th, eight weeks and two days since they had sailed from Bristol; but as they at last set foot in the Americas it seemed to them as though the few days since the capture of the Circe had been longer than the whole of the rest of their voyage.
The sand of the beach was shimmering with heat, and the sun blazed down mercilessly; so, although they had been exposed to it in the open boat for little over a quarter of an hour, they were all perspiring freely and beginning to fear the effects of sunburn. When they reached the wide veranda of the house, the shade it provided was as welcome as a douche of cold water. On it there were a dozen or so lounge chairs of bamboo, and the Vicomte courteously bowed his prisoners to them. They had scarcely seated themselves when a negro in livery appeared carrying a large jug, filled with what looked as if it might be lemon squash, and glasses. The drink proved delicious but quite unlike anything they had ever tasted, and Lucette told them that it was a concoction made from soursops and rum.
When their glasses were refilled, de Senlac said: "While we finish our drinks let us dispose of the uncongenial subject of business, then we need refer to it no further. How much can you afford to pay me by way of ransom?"
Feeling that it would be futile to suggest too small a sum, Roger replied: "There are five of us, so I suggest five thousand pounds."
The Vicomte gave his high-pitched chuckle. "Come, come, Monsieur le Gouverneur! You set too small a price upon yourself, and one which comes near an insult to the beauty of these ladies. You must do better than that."
Roger spread out his hands and made a little grimace. It was a gesture which came quite naturally to him from having lived for so long in France. "Perhaps you are unaware, Monsieur, that I have not yet taken up my Governorship. It is a reward for certain services I rendered to my government which were of a far from profitable nature; and neither my wife nor I have any private fortune. Mademoiselle Marsham had the misfortune to be left a penniless orphan, Jenny here is entirely dependent on her mistress, and Lady St. Ermins's position is now most uncertain, owing to the death of her husband."
"Monsieur, you bring tears to my eyes." The Vicomte's voice was mocking, then suddenly became harsh as he added: "Yet the tears will be in yours and theirs unless you can raise fifty thousand between you."
"Fifty thousand!" Roger gasped. 'To find even a fifth of that sum would bring me near ruin. I beg you to show us a reasonable consideration."
De Senlac shrugged. "Persons of your birth must have connections who could raise itfor you. If not, you know the alternative."
"Oh Monsieur!" Amanda pleaded with clasped hands. "I pray you believe my husband, for he speaks the truth; and we have no relatives to whom we could appeal for so huge a ransom."
"Forgive me, Madame, if I suggest that your memory is at fault. Perhaps if for just one night I allow my men to follow their usual custom of drawing lots for the enjoyment of the favours of yourself and your friends, that would refresh your memory by tomorrow."
They all paled at his abominable threat, but Georgina stepped into the breach and said in a low voice: "My husband's estate apart, I have certain properties of my own, and if the sale of them proved insufficient I am confident that my father would make up the difference."
"Ah!" exclaimed the Vicomte. "Madame la Comtesse shows the most admirable sense, and relieves me from taking a step that I should have found most distasteful."
Roger had far greater cause for relief; but, all the same, he wished that Georgina had made some attempt to get the amount reduced. He thought it quite probable that de Senlac would have settled for half the sum and the full fifty thousand was an appalling ransom to have to find. There would be no question of Georgina's selling Stillwaters as it was hers only for life, but although her rich father would certainly help her, this great inroad into her resources might make it impossible for her to continue living there; and the least he himself could now do would be to hand over to her as his contribution the bulk of his savings. However, there could be no going back on her offer; so he said to de Senlac:
"May we take it then that if Lady St. Ermins writes to her father on the lines she suggests, you will provide means for us to continue our interrupted voyage as soon as possible?"
"No, no, mon ami" the Vicomte cackled. "That is too much to ask. Madame la Comtesse shall write her letter tomorrow, and I will give her to put in it the name of a Genoese banker who is a good friend of mine. It is to him that the money must be remitted; and when the full sum has been paid he will notify me to that effect. Only then can I permit you to depart."
"But that will take months," Amanda protested.
"Yes, four months at the least. Perhaps six or more. As we do not enjoy the amenity of a regular mail service here, my correspondence is subject to the additional delays consequent, on being sent to and collected from certain of the larger Caribbean ports. However, we will do our best to make your stay in Tortuga a pleasant one." "
"You are very kind," Roger forced himself to say. "But should there be such long delay in my taking up my post, my Government may believe me dead and appoint some other in my place, so that I'll lose it altogether. Can you not possibly..."
"May I remind you, Monsieur," the Vicomte cut him short, "that you are very lucky not to be actually dead. You might well have lost your life at the same time as your friend, the Lord St. Ermins."
"That is true," agreed Roger. "Yet since I am alive I am naturally anxious to secure my future. Will you not accept our word of honour to do nought which might invalidate the agreement at which we have arrived; and my promise to raise five thousand pounds to send you on account immediately we reach Martinique?"
De Senlac shook his head. "I regret to disoblige you; but on this point my mind is made up. You must all remain here until I receive definite information that the money is lying to my order in Genoa."
Roger had made his bid and could do no more. From the beginning he had felt that the chances were against.the Vicomte's letting them go on the sole security of their word, but had hoped for a better bargain. Fifty thousand pounds and six months' detention on Tortuga was a heavy price to pay. Yet it was still cheap compared to the alternative; and there was always a possibility that they might be able to escape. The only thing to do was to try to look cheerful and hope that the future might bring better fortune.
Having finished his drink, the Vicomte went on: "As a good half of the hottest hours of the day still lie before us I suggest that we should adjourn for the siesta. At sundown it is my intention to dispense justice to the Circe's crew, and afterwards we will dine. The former may provide you with a spectacle of some interest; to the latter I shall look forward, as I rarely have the opportunity of entertaining persons of my own quality."
Standing up, he made a leg to the ladies and, without waiting for a reply, strutted into the house. Lucette followed him and beckoned the prisoners after her. They entered a wide, airy hall with a broad staircase, up which the Vicomte was mounting to the floor above, but she took them through it and down a passage that ran along the back of the building. Throwing open a row of doors one after the other she said: