“Wot d’ yer want me to do?” he asked.
“Answer me one question first. Supposing I were to arrange to take your place on the ‘Cuban Queen’ for a couple of days. In that case the man who waits on the hulks would have to be squared to keep his mouth shut. Could that be done?”
“P’raps. ’E ain’t the inspector. ’E’s paid to wait on us, so as we don’t ’ave to leave the ’ulks. ’Tain’t ’is business to look after what we do. P’raps ’e might if it wos worth ’is while.”
“Very well. I’ll give you the money to-night to square him, and some on account for yourself as well. And now another question. Where does your wife live?”
“Mill Lane, Chelmsford.”
“That’s all right. When you get back to the ‘Cuban Queen’ you’ll get a telegram from Chelmsford to say she’s dying, and that you must go to her. You must show that to the man you’ve got aboard. What do you call him by-the-bye?”
“Winton.”
“Well, you must show the telegram to Winton, and tell him you intend applying for leave, and that he must go somewhere else in the meantime. He won’t want to leave the only safe hiding-place he’s got, and he’ll try and persuade you not to go, and will perhaps offer you a big money bribe to stay. You must persist in going; but after a time you must say that you have a brother at Southend who could come and take your place while you are away, and that you are sure he’d keep his mouth shut if he were well paid. Winton will have to consent if you persist. Then you’ll send a telegram to me, as if I were your brother, asking me to come over to see you; and when I come you’ll show me the telegram and ask me to take charge of the hulk while you go away to see your wife. I shall come at night, so as not to be seen, and shall pretend to agree, and then you can go ashore and put up at my cottage here until I signal you to return. Do as I tell you, and play me fair, and I’ll give you fifty pounds for yourself when it’s all over. What do you say?”
“Can’t be done,” he answered sullenly.
“Why not?”