"'Sure, cap'n, a man must needs eat at times,' protested Bagley.
"'Well, hurry up then,' said Pierre, and I heard them push back their chairs. They both came out and made for the door. A man waved to Bagley as he passed, and Bagley, with a glance at Pierre, went up to him.
"The man must have asked him to stay and have a drink or something, for Bagley answered: 'Sure, I've no time. I have to be gettin' back. Payter is in a bad temper.' And then he followed Pierre.
"I realized then what I'd half guessed since the beginning of their talk, that Pierre was Payter. The English for Pierre is Peter, but an Irishman like Bagley would naturally pronounce it Payter. I followed the two till they separated at the quay, then I tagged on to Pierre again. I wanted to find out as much as I could while I had the chance. As it happens, he made straight for Giraud's. I waited till he'd been in the shop a few minutes, then I strolled in myself and stepped right into your arms. The rest you know."
Ben was considerably impressed by Dare's story, and when it ended he gave expression to his feelings in his own peculiar way.
"That's what you might call a stroke of luck," he declared enthusiastically. "Here's news for the cap'n."
"Not yet," said Dare.
"An' why?"
"Well, what have we got to tell him, except that we've found out who Payter is?"
"Not much, 'tis true."