"I know now what I wanted to know about him," Danjuro purred after a moment. "I never doubted the intelligence, Sir John. It is very marked. And there is great energy and courage of a sort. But our friend who spits has one little failing. He is afraid of physical pain."
"You're not going to ...?"
Danjuro looked me full in the eyes, and in his I saw a stony resolution that I was in no state to combat.
"I will go and see Miss Shepherd," I said, and turning on my heel, walked quickly to the inner end of the cavern. As I went I heard Danjuro ask Thumbwood for a box of matches....
I am quite aware that there are lots of softhearted people who will say I ought never to have allowed Danjuro to do what he did. Well, they must have their own opinion, that's all. I believe it was nothing like so bad as the cat-o'-nine-tails which is constantly administered in our prisons, and under the circumstances I think it was justifiable. Call me what names you like as you read this—you have not seen Mr. Vargus and his dogs, nor spent a small eternity in the pirates' cave.
... Constance was wonderfully recovered. I spent a minute or two with her, and then returned to the scene of action.
Mr. Vargus was speaking in a quick, panting voice, and these were the words I heard:
"Gascoigne, Mr. Gascoigne; he has it. He was our second pilot. It was always in his charge."
Danjuro gave his little weary smile. Then he put his hand gently upon my arm and drew me away to the other side of the cave.
"We will now summon honourable Gascoigne," he said. "He is the young gentleman we saw with late honourable Helzephron at the 'Mille Colonnes.' The little necessary piece of the mechanism in his possession is, I have just learnt, generally referred to as 'the link.'"