"And who?"--Gowrie was devoured by curiosity.
"No, no, Mr. Gowrie. It is not yet the time to play my hand. You are of opinion that Mrs. Narby is guilty. Perhaps I struck the blow----"
"You," Gowrie almost shrieked, "and ye own it."
"I would if I wanted to," rejoined Kyles calmly, "only let me get the two thousand, which Sir Simon was about to pay me, and which by an accursed accident slipped through my fingers, and I don't mind confessing anything."
"But the police----?"
"They can't arrest me on board this boat, and when once steam is up, the 'Tarabacca' will show a clean pair of heels, until she drops anchor in South American waters."
"But there may be an extradition treaty between Indiana Republic and Great Britain."
"There is. But I'm not going back to Indiana. The President Señor Guzman, who was my friend, has been kicked out, and his enemy is in power. Of all his wealth and mine, this yacht only remains. I came to England to get money."
"And nae tae purchase war-ships."
"Pooh, that was a blind. However, to make a long story short, Señor Guzman is waiting for me and his daughter in a certain spot in South America which does not concern you. From that place we start out to find the treasure of Manco Capac. But to do so, I wanted money, and two thousand is the least I can do with. Indeed," said Kyles biting his fingers, "I fancy I'll ask Herries to double the sum. He can easily spare it out of fifty thousand a year."