“Just took the skipper on board a few minutes ago, sir,” he said. “He must have come down by the boat before yours.”
A few minutes later Cartoner stood on the deck of the Minnie, and banged with his fist on the cover of the cabin gangway, which was tantamount to ringing at Captain Cable's front door.
The sailor's grim face appeared a moment later, emerging like the face of a hermit-crab from its shell. The frown slowly faded, and the deep, unwashed wrinkles took a kindlier curve.
“It's you, Mr. Cartoner,” he said. “Glad to see you.”
“I was passing in a steamer,” answered Cartoner, quietly, “and recognized the Minnie.”
“I take it friendly of you, Mr. Cartoner, remembering the rum time you and me had together. Come below. I've got a drop of wine somewhere stowed away in a locker.”
VI
THE VULTURES
“I suppose,” Miss Mangles was saying—“I suppose, Joseph, that Lady Orlay has been interested in the work without our knowing it?”