"Because he's stark, raving mad. that's why! He attacked me with a razor. He tried to poison me. He gabbled about bears. He—"
"Indeed?" said Sturton. "Mad, is he? Well, well. And this is the man, I think, you wished to call as a witness to: your spotless behaviour? This is your star witness, who was to testify how you lost the emerald?… Captain! Whistler, are you sure that you yourself are entirely in: your right mind?"
Peggy went over and patted the skipper on the back, j speaking soothing words to him. Her feminine instincts, were deeply aroused, for he was almost at the point where there were tears in those honest old eyes. And again he was speechless before the evil weaving of Lachesis. He! must now be beginning, Morgan fancied, to have a faint j conception of how Warren had felt. j
"I am waiting," said Sturton. I
Again the mirth tickled his rusty ribs. But he was watch-lug Whistler wind himself up for a few sulphurous remark n, and forestalled him by holding up a scraggy hand.
"Rubbish rubbish rubbish. Wait. Don't say it, Commander. You'd regret it. / have something to say. It is only fair to you. The joke has been excellent, excellent, excellent. It has amused me, although, as a lawyer, Commander — tut, tut! But it is time to end it now. I have enjoyed myself long enough… Captain, there will be no suit."
"No suit?"
"None. My secretary informed me of the rumour in the ship. That the nephew of my old friend had been imprisoned for trying to kill somebody. I could not resist amusing myself. Well! Time's ended. Joke's up. I have business… No suit. Finished, ended, done. Don't want to hear of it again."
"But that emerald, .!"
"Oh, yes! Yes, yes. The stone, of course. Very funny things go on aboard this ship. But why should there be a suit? Maybe the thief reformed; got qualms of conscience. How should / know? Anyhow—"