“That’s very decent of you,” Jack replied. “We apologize, Captain Carter.”
“It was an unfortunate mistake,” added Ken. “Happy—Mr. Livingston had shown us the parchment translation. We left it on the table when we were called away, and it disappeared.”
“So you tag me?”
“It was a mistake,” Jack said patiently. “By the way, when you stopped at our table, did you see the manuscript?”
“Oh, so now you want to put me through the third degree! It’s not enough that you grab me from behind and maul me?”
“We’re only trying to learn what became of a very valuable property,” Jack answered, carefully holding his temper in check.
“Son, I didn’t see your papers or whatever it was you lost. Get that straight?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Okay, that’s settled. Now do you know where I’ll find this character, Livingston?”
Jack resented the captain’s manner of referring to the Scout leader. He answered briefly. “He’s at the hotel.”