Merriman, now thoroughly aroused, moved with some annoyance.
“For Heaven’s sake, explain yourself,” he demanded. “What whole thing?”
“How they do it. We thought it was brandy smuggling but we couldn’t see how it was done. Well, I see now. It’s brandy smuggling right enough, and we’ll get them this time. We’ll get them, Merriman, we’ll get them yet.”
Hilliard was bubbling over with excitement. He could not remain still, but began to pace up and down the room. His emotion was infectious, and Merriman began to feel his heart beat quicker as he listened.
Hilliard went on:
“We thought there might be brandy, in fact we couldn’t suggest anything else. But we didn’t see any brandy; we saw pit-props. Isn’t that right?”
“Well?” Merriman returned impatiently. “Get on. What next?”
“That’s all,” Hilliard declared with a delighted laugh. “That’s the whole thing. Don’t you see it now?”
Merriman felt his anger rising.
“Confound it all, Hilliard,” he protested. “If you haven’t anything better to do than coming round wakening—”