"You seem to have a good knowledge of a our movements," said Ned. "You have a spy system well in hand here."
"That is refreshing, as coming from the mouth of a spy," retorted the other. "If you are ready to talk business," he added, closing the door, "I am ready to make a proposition."
"If your time and your breath are worth anything," the boy replied, "you may as well save both."
"You have possession of certain documents taken from a certain wreck in the Pacific Ocean?"
Ned made no reply.
"You possess certain information concerning an alleged plot."
Still no response from the boy.
"Without you, your government can make no headway in the investigation now on foot."
Ned dropped into a chair and turned his face away with a well assumed air of indifference. Really, he was anxious for the man to go on, to say just how important were the papers and the information.
"We have it in our power to prevent the information you possess ever reaching your government, but the documents you have we cannot get in the usual way. Therefore we are offering you terms."