6Next day amongst the personals in the Times there appeared one of vital interest to d**k:
“Well-Wisher: A thousand pounds reward.”
Dick’s heart leaped with joy. By holding off he might have obtained even more; but he could not wait. A thousand pounds would save him and Millicent. He immediately sat down to compose a letter to the Compte de Grandeville, alias Miguel of Bulomania.
But no inspiration came to him. He could only bite his penholder. “How the devil will we be able to swing it!” he asked Plug.
“Why, tell him to leave the money in a certain place; and if it’s all right you’ll leave the pearls there,” said Plug.
“Is that the best you can hit out?” asked d**k scornfully. “No sane man is going to risk a thousand pounds on a chance like that. He doesn’t know that we’ve got the pe
