conscience about the arrangement. Later on, when he took me into his
confidence, he told me that in paying the ransom, or hush-money as I
should have called it, he was partly influenced by the fear that if he
refused it the kidnappers might have vented their rage and disappointment
on their captive. It was better, he said, to think of her being well
cared for as a highly-valued paying-guest in one of the Lofoden Islands
than to have her struggling miserably home in a maimed and mutilated
condition. Anyway he paid the yearly instalment as punctually as one
pays a fire insurance, and with equal promptitude there would come an
acknowledgment of the money and a brief statement to the effect that
Crispina was in good health and fairly cheerful spirits. One report even
mentioned that she was busying herself with a scheme for proposed reforms
in Church management to be pressed on the local pastorate. Another spoke
of a rheumatic attack and a journey to a 'cure' on the mainland, and on
that occasion an additional eighty pounds was demanded and conceded. Of
course it was to the interest of the kidnappers to keep their charge in
good health, but the secrecy with which they managed to shroud their
arrangements argued a really wonderful organisation. If my uncle was
paying a rather high price, at least he could console himself with the
reflection that he was paying specialists' fees."

"Meanwhile had the police given up all attempts to track the missing
lady?" asked the Journalist.

"Not entirely; they came to my uncle from time to time to report on clues
which they thought might yield some elucidation as to her fate or
whereabouts, but I think they had their suspicions that he was possessed
of more information than he had put at their disposal. And then, after a
disappearance of more than eight years, Crispina returned with dramatic
suddenness to the home she had left so mysteriously."