"Good morning, Captain Hallet," said Miss Minerva brightly. "May I present my nephew, Mr. John Quincy Winterslip, of Boston."
"I'm very anxious to meet Mr. John Quincy Winterslip," the captain replied.
"How do you do," said John Quincy. His heart sank. They'd drag him into this affair if they could.
"And this, John Quincy," went on Miss Minerva, "is Mr. Charles Chan, of the Honolulu detective force."
John Quincy had thought himself prepared for anything, but—"Mr.—Mr. Chan," he gasped.
"Mere words," said Chan, "can not express my unlimitable delight in meeting a representative of the ancient civilization of Boston."
Harry Jennison spoke. "This is an appalling business, Miss Winterslip," he said. "As perhaps you know, I was your cousin's lawyer. I was also his friend. Therefore I hope you won't think I am intruding if I show a keen interest in what is going forward here."
"Not at all," Miss Minerva assured him. "We shall need all the help we can get."
Captain Hallet had taken a paper from his pocket. He faced John Quincy.
"Young man," he began, "I said I wanted to meet you. Last night Miss Winterslip told me of a cablegram received by the dead man about a week ago, which she said angered him greatly. I happen to have a copy of that message, turned over to me by the cable people. I'll read it to you: