“Not satisfied yet?” said Simonski in apparent surprise. “All right. Hand it to him, boy.”
The cabin boy passed over the bag. The inspector searched it with the same thoroughness he had used in examining the trunk. Nothing came of the examination.
“Lot of good it did you, didn’t it?” remarked the traveler, with sarcasm.
Then, turning to the cabin boy, he said, “We’ll be moving now. Get a taxi for me.”
“Not so fast,” said the inspector. “I’m not done yet. We have reason to think you have something dutiable with you. If it isn’t in your baggage, it may be on your person. We’ll have to search you.”
“Very well. Help yourself. Here are my pockets.” And he held up his arms so the inspector could delve into his coat.
“We don’t examine suspects that way,” said the inspector. “You’ll have to come with me.”
Simonski, plainly annoyed, turned to give some directions to the cabin boy. The latter, wishing to earn an even larger fee if possible, reached for the cane. “I’ll keep it,” he said, “until you get back.”
Simonski apparently did not hear him, for he turned on his heel and walked away, with his cane still swinging jauntily on his arm.
Willie was in a quandary. He thought Simonski would be taken to an office on the pier and searched. He didn’t know whether he himself would be allowed in the place unless he told who he was. That he did not want to do. He said nothing but walked along almost abreast of the inspector. To his surprise, the latter went aboard the ship, preceded by Simonski. Willie followed hard on their heels. An officer was near the gangway.