Reist leaped lightly out, and Ughtred followed him. Opposite was the gangway leading to the steamer, through which a little crowd of passengers were already elbowing their way. They lingered on its outskirts and watched the single carriage drawn by the second engine. It drew up within a few feet of them, and a tall, fair young man handed out his portmanteau to one of the porters and leisurely descended on to the platform. Ughtred recognized him with a little exclamation of surprise.
“Why, it’s Brand!”
He would have moved forward but for Reist’s restraining arm.
“Wait! Who is he?”
“A newspaper man,” Ughtred answered. “An honest fellow and a friend. I will answer for him.”
“He was at your rooms with Hassen,” Reist said, quickly. “I would trust no one whom I had seen with that man. Let him pass. We will follow him on board.”
But it was too late. Brand possessed the quick, searching gaze of a journalist, and already, with a little start of surprise, he had recognized them.
“Erlito,” he exclaimed. “What luck!”
Erlito shook hands with him, laughing. They turned towards the boat together.