Pinto nodded.
"Now I want to ask you a few questions, and if they seem to be prying or personal, you must believe that I have no other wish than to secure information which is vital to myself. What position do you occupy with the Western Company?"
Cartwright shrugged his shoulders.
"I am a pilot," he said. "If you mean, am I a director of the firm or am I interested in the company financially, I regret that I must answer No. I wish I were," he added, "but I am merely an employee."
Pinto nodded.
"That is what I wanted to know," he said. "Now, here is another question. What does a first-class aeroplane cost?"
"It depends," said the other. "A long distance machine, such as I have been flying, would cost anything up to five thousand pounds."
"Could you buy one? Are they on the market?" asked Pinto quickly.
"I could buy a dozen to-morrow," said the other promptly. "The R.A.F. have been selling off their machines, and I know just where I could get one of the best in Britain."
Pinto was looking at the stage, biting his lips thoughtfully.