Vandeloup smiled.
‘In that case, circumstances, as represented by you, will permit me to choose my own destinations.’
‘Depends entirely upon your being guided by circumstances, as represented by me,’ retorted the Doctor, grimly.
‘Pshaw!’ said the Frenchman, coolly, ‘let us have done with allegory, and come to common sense. What do you want?’
‘I want Octave Braulard,’ said Gollipeck, rising to his feet.
Vandeloup quite expected this, and was too clever to waste time in denying his identity.
‘He stands before you,’ he answered, curtly, ‘what then?’
‘You acknowledge, then, that you are Octave Braulard, transported to New Caledonia for the murder of Adele Blondet?’ said the Doctor tapping the table with one hand.
‘To you—yes,’ answered Vandeloup, crossing to the door and locking it; ‘to others—no.’
‘Why do you lock the door?’ asked Gollipeck, gruffly.