“Does Smith ever write letters?” asked Gorman.
“I don’t know. Oh, yes. I remember. The day we docked at Tilbury, after our return voyage, Captain Wilson sent me up to the office with some letters of Mr. Donovan’s. Just as I was starting he called me back and said I might as well take Smith’s letters too. There were three of them, all addressed to Mr. Steinwitz.”
“I think,” said Gorman, “that when I get to the island I’ll have a look at those cisterns of yours.”
“I’ll ask the Queen if I may take you,” said Phillips.
“You and the Queen,” said Gorman, “seem to have formed yourselves into a kind of detective brotherhood for the discovery of the mystery of the island.”
“We thought it would be rather fun.”
“You don’t appear to have found out very much. Suppose you take me into partnership. We could all three work together, except when it is necessary to climb cisterns. Then I’d stay round the nearest corner. What do you think?”
“I’d like to; but I must ask the Queen first.”
“I might be some help.”