There was a slight pause before each of Garrod's answers. This time his hearers held their breaths.
"There is some mistake," he said composedly. "He was working in the boat, and it must have drifted off. I was asleep."
The pent-up breaths escaped. Jack turned a little paler, and set his teeth. He was not surprised; something had warned him of what was coming. Sir Bryson looked at his daughter.
"Linda, I understand that you were present," he said. "Did you see Mr. Garrod push the boat off?"
"He did it," she began excitedly. "I know he did it."
"I asked you if you saw him do it?" Sir Bryson said severely.
"No," she said sullenly. "It was already adrift when I came."
Sir Bryson, with a satisfied air, turned back to Garrod. "Do you know this man?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," said Garrod. "It is Malcolm Piers. We were friends years ago, before he ran away."
Jack looked at him with a kind of grim surprise.