"Know what?"
"That a man presented one of the missing notes. Before he could be arrested he slipped away, and the police are hunting for him. He was,--he was," said the Inspector solemnly, "Pope Narby."
[CHAPTER XXV]
THE CAPTAIN'S STORY
At half-past seven o'clock that same evening Herries was on the fisherman's jetty situated in the lower parts of Tarhaven, and with him was his cousin. Both were well wrapped up, as the night was bitterly cold. However, the atmosphere was clear, and there shone a wintry-looking moon, the light of which was occasionally obscured by drifting clouds. Maud looked over the grey choppy sea to an emerald star, which indicated the position of the "Tarabacca," and shuddered at the idea of venturing out on such an evening. Timid as a rule, only her love for Kyles made her resolve to board the ship. Also she had another idea in her head, and as she thought of it again, she stole a glance at her cousin, which was forebodingly forbidding.
But Herries was looking up towards the town, and wondering why Ritson did not come. The lawyer had insisted upon sharing the adventure, and on taking charge of the gold.
But the watched pot boiled on this occasion, and very soon a cab drove down to the top of the jetty, and Ritson came along, well-muffled up in a fur coat, followed by two men carrying a wooden box, which they placed in the waiting boat by his directions. Then Herries got in, after handing Maud to a seat, and the oarsmen,--there were two, dipped their oars into the gleaming water.
"Got it there?" asked Angus, nodding towards the wooden box, as they swept clear of the jetty.
"The lead. Yes!" said Ritson with a frown. "You mean the leaden seals, don't you?"
"Certainly," replied Herries, seeing that Ritson did not wish either the boatmen or Maud to learn the real contents of the wooden box.