"I met him through some friends I used to go sailing with, and he seemed to be an awfully good egg. I'd known him for quite some time when he told me what he was doing and said that he needed some help. I' knew it was against the law, but I didn't feel as if I was a criminal. You know how it is — we've all smuggled small things through the customs when we've had the chance, and we don't feel as if we'd done anything wicked. I just thought it'd be great fun with a bit of danger to make it more exciting."
"I've wangled things through the customs myself," said the Saint. "But there's a difference between that and making a business of it."
"Oh, I know," she said helplessly, "I was a damn fool, that's all. But I didn't realize… I didn't have anything to do with the organization. I went out in the yacht once or twice, and another boat met us in the Channel, and we took things on board, and then we came back here and unloaded it and went away. I went to Paris and bought those dresses and things, but Lasser gave me the money, and he was to take half the profits. And I used to meet people and take them messages and things when he didn't want them to know who they were dealing with. I'd never been on one of the lorries before last night, but Lasser wanted two people to go for safety because of the lorries that had disappeared, and there was nobody else available. I know why now — because Lasser wanted Borieff to help him, and Pargo was being tortured."
"You didn't happen to think that Jopley and Borieff were retired churchwardens, did you?"
"No — I hated them. But Lasser said you had to employ anyone you could get for jobs like theirs, and I didn't think even they could go so far." She shrugged, and her eyes were dark with pain. "Well, it's my own fault. I suppose you'll be handing them over to the police, and you'd better take me with you. I shan't give you any trouble. Whatever happens, I'm glad you beat them."
He shook his head.
"I'm afraid it wouldn't be any good handing them over to the police," he said. "You see, the Law has such pettifogging rules about evidence."
"But—"
"Oh yes, you could convict them of smuggling, and get them about six months each. But that's all."
"Then—"