“By all means.”
“Now, then, we can talk easily.” Mr. Kuvetli sat down beside him on the bunk. “Monsieur Graham, I was going to introduce myself to you to-morrow. Now, Monsieur Moeller has saved me the trouble, I think. You know that I am not a tobacco merchant, eh?”
“According to Moeller you are a Turkish agent acting under Colonel Haki’s orders. Is that so?”
“Yes, that is so. I will be truthful. I am surprised that you have not discovered me before this. When the Frenchman asked me what firm I belonged to I had to say Pazar and Co., because I had given that name to you. Unfortunately, the firm of Pazar and Co. does not exist. Naturally he was puzzled. I was able to prevent him from asking more questions then, but I expected him to discuss it with you later.” The smile had gone and with it the bright-eyed stupidity which, for Graham, had been the tobacco merchant. In its place was a firm determined mouth, and a pair of steady brown eyes which surveyed him with something very like good-humoured contempt. “He did not discuss it.”
“And you did not suspect that I was avoiding his questions?” He shrugged. “One always takes unnecessary precautions. People are so much more trusting than one supposes.”
“Why should I suspect?” Graham demanded irritably. “What I cannot understand is why you did not approach me as soon as you knew that Banat was on the ship. I suppose,” he added spitefully, “that you do know that Banat is on the ship?”
“Yes, I know,” said Mr. Kuvetli airily. “I did not approach you for three reasons.” He held up podgy fingers. “Colonel Haki instructed me in the first place that your attitude to his efforts to protect you were unsympathetic and that unless it became necessary I would do better to remain unknown to you. Secondly, Colonel Haki has a low opinion of your ability to conceal your feelings and considered that if I wished to keep my true identity secret I had better not tell you of it.”
Graham was scarlet. “And what about the third reason?”
“Thirdly,” continued Mr. Kuvetli serenely, “I wished to see what Banat and Moeller would do. You tell me that Moeller has talked to you. Excellent. I would like to hear what he had to say.”
Graham was angry now. “Before I waste my time doing that,” he said coldly, “supposing you show me your credentials. So far I have only Moeller’s word and your own that you are a Turkish agent. I’ve already made some silly mistakes on this trip. I don’t intend to make any more.”