'I see.' His eyes were furious.
'See here, Captain Manack,' I said, 'the girl can't stay on in that house — not after what she's heard. It wouldn't be safe for you in any case. I'm offering you the easy way out. What about it?'
His face relaxed. He hesitated. Then he nodded. 'All right, Pryce,' he said. 'Maybe it's all for the best. But it's up to you to make your peace with Mulligan. All right?'
'Thanks,' I said. 'You won't forget to tell her, will you? And tell her I'm sorry about last night. I was going to meet her down by the mine buildings. Explain why I couldn't, will you?'
'All right,' he said. And the gig rattled up to the surface.
The charges exploded just after five-thirty. A few minutes later Captain Manack returned with two big Thermos flasks of hot tea. 'Police been around at all?' Slim asked.
'No.'
'Wot aba't the ol' man?' Friar put in. 'Did yer see 'im? Wane locked up orl right?'
'Of course,' Manack answered sharply, and out of the tail of my eye I saw him jerk his head significantly in my direction He was clearly angry with Friar for putting the question.
As Slim poured out the tea, Manack came over to me. He had a bulky envelope in his hand. 'There you are, Pryce,' he said, handing it to me. 'There's letters of instruction there to Mulligan and Carlo Forzala, the manager of my estate. There's also two hundred and fifty quid in pound notes.'