But in spite of these words the pale face and nervous manner of Potts showed how deep was his agitation.
“I myself was on board the Vishnu,” said the other.
“You!”
“Yes, I.”
“You! Then you must have been precious small. The Vishnu went down twenty years ago.”
“I was on board of the Vishnu, and I saw Colonel Despard.”
The memory of some awful scene seemed to inspire the tones of the speaker—they thrilled through the coarse, brutal nature of the listener.
“I saw Colonel Despard,” continued the stranger.
“You lie!” cried Potts, roused by terror and horror to a fierce pitch of excitement.
“I saw Colonel Despard,” repeated the stranger, for the third time, “on board the Vishnu in the Indian Sea. I learned from him his story—”