“My name is Thompson,” said Peace; “and I am most proud to have made your acquaintance. I will, with your permission, show you a rough draft of an invention of mine.”
He drew from his pocket a drawing of his apparatus for raising sunken ships.
His two companions inspected it, and said it appeared to them to be a most admirable contrivance. This declaration was succeeded by a long discussion upon its merits, and soon after this dinner was served, upon which the three gentlemen sat down.
Peace had not the faintest notion at this time that he was hob-nobbing with two detectives, and it was fortunate for him that Mr. Wrench did not put in an appearance at this juncture.
“Wal,” said Shearman, “how goes the case? Ugly against the prisoners?”
“Most remarkably strong against them,” returned Mr. Cartridge, Peace’s friend.
“I guessed as much. Wal, it’s a scandal to your country—a great scandal,” observed Shearman.
“Oh, everybody must admit that, sir,” returned Peace. “For my own part, I can’t see any excuse for these men. They were well paid, would, on retiring, be entitled to pensions, and yet they must aid and abet dishonest persons like Kurr and Benson.”
“That is if they have done so,” said Mr. Cartridge.
“Do you doubt it after what we have heard to-day?” inquired Peace.