“Sir?” said Moïse.
“Hill is not dead,” said the Spook. “Jones thinks he is because the doctor said so, but Hill is alive, in Gumush Suyu hospital.”
“Oh, thank you, Sir!” said Moïse. “And may we still find the treasure? Is the promise for the future still secure?”
“Everything’s all right,” said the Spook, “and all is my doing. I am punishing the Commandant—that is why I made Price lose the paper.”
“What are you punishing him for, Sir?” asked Moïse.
“For greed and disobedience.”
“I know!” the Pimple cried. “I thought it might be that as soon as I heard he had disobeyed instructions. I suppose you are referring to his digging?”
“Yes,” said the Spook. “Tell Jones about it, I’m busy.”
I let go of the button and the Pimple told me of the communication which had just been received.
“You know,” he said, “as soon as the Commandant got my letter telling him the position of the third clue, he decided to dig for it without waiting for me. The letter said he was to wait for me, by the Spook’s orders, but he sent the Cook to dig at once. The Cook pretended to the prisoners in Posh Castle that he was making a drain, and he dug very hard, but he found nothing.”