He sat up and looked at Starling. The latter hung his head and shook like a guilty schoolboy.
"It was so foolish of you," Sabatini murmured, "but we'll talk of that presently. They were civil to you at the police court, eh?"
"I was never charged," Starling replied. "They couldn't get their evidence together."
"Still, they asked you questions, no doubt?" Sabatini continued.
"I told them nothing," Starling replied. "On my soul and honor, I told them nothing!"
"It was very wise of you," Sabatini said. "It might have led to disappointments—to trouble of many sorts. So you told them nothing, eh? That is excellent. After we have landed, I must hand you over to my valet. Then we will have a little talk."
They were in the backwater now, drifting on toward the lawn. Starling shrank back at the sight of the two women.
"I can't face it," he muttered. "I tell you I have lost my nerve."
"You have nothing to fear," Sabatini said quietly. "There is no one here likely to do you or wish you any harm."
Fenella came down to the steps to meet them.