'That comes well from a detective, that does!' said Simon scornfully. 'It needn't have cost him more than threepence to have his beard shaved off, need it?'
'And seeing that this photograph was taken yesterday morning, and Ravengar fell off a steamer into the Channel more than a week ago!'
'But did he fall off a steamer more than a week ago?'
'He was noticed on board the steamer before she started, and he wasn't on board when she arrived.'
'Couldn't he have walked on to the steamer with his luggage, and then walked off again and let her start without him?'
'But why?'
'Suppose he wanted to pretend to be dead?'
'Why should he want to pretend to be dead?' Albert defended his position.
Simon, entirely forgetful of that dignity which usually he was at such pains to preserve, sprang on to the piano alongside Albert.
'I'll tell you another thing,' said he. 'When I came in with the governor's tea this morning he was just dozing and half-dreaming like—he'd had a very bad night—and I heard him say, "So they think you are at the bottom of the Channel, Louis? I wish you were!" What do you think of that, my son?'