“Yes,” he answered, with a gasp; “I escaped from the ship.”
“How?” I asked.
“I followed your example,” he returned, “and leaped overboard.”
“To arrive here,” I said, “in dry clothes, having made no change?”
He gave a sudden start at this, and cast a hurried glance at his own figure. Then he looked at me with an expression I shall not readily forget. It was that of a hunted creature trapped, and recognizing the fact that he was caught.
“I swam ashore,” he said, “and I have changed my clothes at home.”
I moved without a word to the door, and, opening it, called out to Hinge, who stood waiting for me in the darkening passage, bidding him to mount. He came and stood at attention.
“Mr. Brunow,” I said, “will give you the key of his rooms, and you will go from here to there, and by his orders will bring back to me a soaked suit of clothes which you will find there. Oblige me by handing my man your key,” I added, turning again on Brunow.
He shot a whisper at me.
“Do you wish to have me murdered?”