"Then," says he, "I can not suppose that you did it with your own hand, for this is the knife with which Tonga was stabbed. Come, Lady Biddy, if you know who did this thing, why not tell at once?"
"How should I know?" cries Lady Biddy.
"Because he is your friend," says Rodrigues, slowly.
"There is the whole of my company," adds he, waving his hand toward the deck. "Not one of those fellows would have moved a hand to save you from the lust of Tonga. The only one on this ship, except myself, who would preserve you is" (dropping his voice and leaning forward) "down there"; and saying this he pointed with his finger to the cabin beneath them.
CHAPTER XXV.
LADY BIDDY IS SET ASHORE, BUT LITTLE MERCY THEREIN.
Hearing these words, Lady Biddy was thrown into such disorder that even had Rodrigues been of dull perception he might have read in her distracted countenance justification of his suspicions. Stepping aside, he fetches a seat placed there for his convenience, and sets it down beside Lady Biddy, who, for want of strength to stand up, sank into it. Then going to the rail, he calls to his boatswain, bidding him to let down Tonga, as he had discovered who it was that stabbed him.
"But," adds he, "no man is to stir from his post till he has my further command."
Whereupon the black was lowered down and hauled upon deck, where he lay for some time helpless and supine.