"If it doesn't get me mixed up with the police. I'm only captain of a tramp; and some of the harbor police have taken a dislike to me. What do you want me to do?"
"The police will not bother you. This man Hargreave had some enemies; they want either his life or his money; maybe both. It's a peculiar case, with Russia in the background. He might have laid the whole business before the police, but he chose to fight it out himself. And to tell the truth, I don't believe the police would have done any good."
"Heave her over; what do you want me to do for that handsome roll of money?"
"If any man or woman who is not a reporter comes to pump you tell them the man went ashore with a packet under his arm."
"Tie a knot in that."
"Say the man was gray-haired, clean-shaven, straight, with a scar high up on his forehead, generally covered up by his hair."
"That's battened down, my lad. Go on."
"Say that you saw him enter yonder warehouse, and later depart without his packet."
"Easy as dropping my mudhook."
"That's all." Norton gave the captain the money. "Good-by and many thanks."