"You came down with Miss Arrow, and she knows. Consequently--"
"Well, she did tell me that Mr. O'Neil had made tracks," interrupted Natty, calmly, "but she did not mention that he was Lancaster." Eustace stopped and looked hard at his companion. "You recognised him, then, Denham?"
"No. I was sold--completely sold, though I knew Lancaster's looks well enough to spot him. His disguise was very clever, so I got sent up. Miss Berry told me."
"I thought as much," replied Eustace, with a shrug. "She said she would say nothing about the matter, and of course she did."
"She told Berry, and I was in the room. And then--" Denham clenched his fist and looked angry. "They wanted me to play the spy," he burst out; "but don't you think I'm down here for that purpose. I've given those two the chuck."
"Why did they wish you to play the spy?" asked Eustace, quietly.
"Well, you see, I come into money when I'm twenty-five. Not from my father. He was rich, but spent nearly all he had. He left me with enough to get along on without working, anyhow. But I was told by Berry, who is my guardian, as you know, that I might inherit a million. He would not give me particulars, saying he would engineer the job. That's what brought me over here. Now, it seems that to get this money, Lancaster has to be found, that he may give evidence. He has some papers which prove that I am entitled to the fortune. And Berry, hang, him! asked me to hunt him down."
This statement was a very ingenious one on the part of the Captain, as it simply set forth that Frank was wanted for a reasonable purpose. Jarman could not conjecture why Natty should be angered.
"I can't see that in searching for Lancaster you are playing the spy."
Denham looked surprised. "Why, you know that Lancaster was with you. Miss Berry came down, having discovered it somehow."