The captain turned towards his junior officer.
"Mr. Dix," he suggested, "perhaps it will clear this little matter up if we send for Robins. You might just step out yourself and bring him round."
Crawshay extended an eager hand.
"I beg that you will do nothing of the sort," he pleaded.
"But why not?" the captain demanded. "You have made a definite charge against a wireless operator on the ship. He ought to be placed in the position to be able to refute it if he can."
"There is no doubt," Crawshay agreed, "that in course of time he will be given that opportunity. At present it would be indiscreet."
"And why?"
"Because there will be other messages, and one is driven to the conclusion that it would be exceedingly interesting to lay hands on one of these messages, no record of which is kept, of which the purser is not informed, and which are delivered secretly to—"
"Well, to whom?" the captain demanded.
"To a passenger on board this steamer."