"Intentionally, captain. We understand each other now; there are no secrets between us. Away with hypocrisy! Of course El Toro, El Chico, and myself formed part of the crew of the Vrouw Elisa. But it is unnecessary to recount to you our adventures on board that vessel."
"They do not interest me."
"I don't think you'd care to hear them," said Baptiste, showing his white teeth with a grim smile. "Well, to proceed. When you were at the consul's this morning, I entered a little drinking shop on the Mole, and there I overheard some sailors speaking about their vessel, which I soon made out to be the barque lying near us under Villegagnon, the one like the Vrouw Elisa. Said one man to the other in French—
"'I suppose she's got the most valuable cargo on board of any vessel in Rio.'
"I pricked up my ears on hearing this.
"'She'd be a fine prize for a pirate,' replied the other man.
"'If there were pirates nowadays,' said the first.
"Feeling interested, I made inquiries about this vessel—Waiter, stand off another few yards. I am talking over some private business with this gentleman."
The negro, not unused to such commands, promptly removed himself.
"I discovered that the barque comes from a little harbour down the coast, near Santa Catharina. It seems that some prospectors have discovered gold in the neighbouring mountains. The quartz is exceptionally rich; the cost of importing the necessary machinery would be great. They are consequently shipping a large quantity of this quarts to Europe to be crushed. That barque, sailing under the French flag, is bound for Swansea with a cargo of this: no ordinary auriferous quartz, let me tell you, but containing a hitherto unexampled percentage of gold. She has put in here for some slight repairs, and will sail in two days. The barque is a new vessel, and is worth a lot of money; but the value of the cargo is enormous. Now, my little plan is that we four, the crew of the Petrel, seize this vessel and make our fortunes."