I readily acquiesced in her proposal; and the widow, having put on a veil, mounted a richly-caparisoned mule led by two well-dressed slaves, and preceded by a running footman carrying a long staff. She went in front, and we all sallied forth after her to the Admiralty palace. The suffect received us in the large hall, where he was seated in his painted chair; and when I had explained the object of my visit, he said:
"Had you come four days sooner, you might have arranged to accompany a Tyrian merchant who passed through this port on his way to the mines."
The suspicion flashed instantly on my mind, and I said:
"You mean Bodmilcar?"
"Yes," replied the suffect, "Bodmilcar; and a rare rough-looking set he had with him. We are not generally very particular in looking into the character of men who go to the diggings, but I confess I never set eyes upon a worse-looking lot. They looked like thieves and assassins."
"Just what they were," I said; "and their leader is no better than themselves. You have only to read this, and you will learn what he really is;" and I handed him Adonibal's letter.
"By Ashtoreth!" he swore, "what a scoundrel the fellow is!"
After pondering a few minutes, he continued: