"Don't ye believe me?" said Wylie. "I tell ye that there clerk boarded us under an alias. He had shaved off his beard; but, bless your heart, I knew him directly."
"He came to verify his suspicions," suggested Wardlaw, in a faint voice.
"Not he. He came for love of the sick girl, and nothing else; and you'll never see either him or her, if that is any comfort to you."
"Be good enough to conceal nothing. Facts must be faced."
"That is too true, sir. Well, we abandoned her, and took to the boats. I commanded one."
"And Hudson the other?"
"Hudson! No."
"Why, how was that? and what has become of him?"
"What has become of Hudson?" said Wylie, with a start. "There's a question! And not a drop to wet my lips and warm my heart. Is this a tale to tell dry? Can't ye spare a drop of brandy to a poor devil that has earned ye 150,000 pounds, and risked his life, and wrecked his soul to do it?"
Wardlaw cast a glance of contempt on him, but got up and speedily put a bottle of old brandy, a tumbler and a caraffe of water on the table before him.