“I ascertained afterwards that I was wrong. Dagara told me.”
“But why should Inez be so false as you suggest?”
“She is instigated by Dr. Barosa.”
“And what is his motive, then?”
It was an awkward question. “I know the motive; but you may doubt the truth. Let me tell you first what has occurred. When I learnt the truth as to the abduction plot——”
“When did you learn it, and how?”
“I was present on the Rampallo when they all met there, and I overheard the whole matter discussed and settled. I then planned matters so that I should be mistaken for the king and carried off in his stead. That was done last night. I was taken to the Rampallo and was on her all the night. My own yacht followed; and this morning my people boarded the Rampallo, released me and made prisoners of every man on the yacht. Under the charge of my friend, Mr. Burroughs, the Rampallo has been sent off with the men and I came back to free you.”
“But how could that free me?”
“In one of two ways. Either by forcing Dr. Barosa to free you from all connexion with the conspiracy; or by making your pardon a condition of my handing over these men to the authorities with a full statement of what had occurred. Now, except myself and those in my confidence on the Stella, there is not a man in Lisbon, outside those in the plot, who knows the facts.”
She listened in rapt attention, sat thinking a few moments, and then put out her hand. “Can you forgive me for hesitating to go with you? I have been distracted with fear.”