"You're drunk."
Morgan steadied himself. "All right, we'll omit the mask then. We saw this stranger sneaking out of Kyle's cabin
laden with Kyle's papers and the emerald. We set on him; i and, although he got away without our learning who he was, we retrieved the whole thing… "A howl of protest arose, and Morgan regarded them sardonically. "Actually, the reason why you oppose it is that you want to hide in with the marionettes and put on that damned show, don't you? Isn't that true?"
"Yes, ay know," Valvick growled stubbornly, "but what about dem getting beaten up?"
"That's part of it. You don't honestly imagine even old Whistler would believe we'd pinch his watch and cufflinks, do you? Very well: Admittedly we were in a bad t position and acted hastily when we ran out on him. But our mythical crook, who was ever in attendance, is on the watch; and, thinking Whistler's got the emerald from us, bursts in. By the use of a bottle as a weapon — that's Whistler's own story, remember, and he's got to stick to it whether he believes it or not — the crook lays low the captain and the second officer, and he makes a clean haul of everything…
He stopped, feeling that the story sounded thin even to his own ears; yet also convinced that their own plan was even more impracticable. It was a case of Mephistopheles in deep water, a toss-up of two insanities, but at least his scheme might do something towards soothing the gigantic wrath of Captain Whistler. Warren grunted.
"And then you and Valvick attack this crook again, I suppose?" he asked. "Hank, it's the bunk. I'm surprised at you."
"No! You don't understand, The crook, groggy from (upturn Whistler's powerful smashes, staggers away to full. We, roused by the noise, return. We find the plunder again. At first we daren't take it to Whistler, knowing what he'll think. But Peggy, seeing we have nothing to fear from our noble conduct, persuades us—"
He saw that Valvick was wavering and scratching his chin, and said desperately:
"Let's put it to a vote. We do this, while Curt returns to the brig and pacifies Woodcock by a definite promise to get him the testimonial. Listen!" An inspiration struck him. "Do you realise that, while Captain Whistler's authority only extends over the high seas, Woodcock is a private citizen and can prosecute in the civil courts? He can get n thousand pounds damages for that, and he's not got any false dignity to restrain him. Do you want to go to jail, Curt? Well, if you leave Woodcock tied up there much longer — and they may not discover him until to-morrow— he'll be so wild that a bug-powder testimonial from the President himself wouldn't keep him quiet. For God's sake, get the champagne out of your brains for three seconds mid think! You needn't stay in the brig any longer than you like, Curt. Whistler's promised to let you out."