“ This can be done. You have seen this photograph. You say that it is not that of your husband, don't you? But, Tui, I must do my duty, do you understand? I must see your husband.”
“And you are the man whose life he saved—for now I 'member your name and the story he told me long ago—you who say you are his friend, you would do this thing, you who in the ship gave him money so that he might——”
“Wait, my girl, till I have finished; then you will understand. Listen now. I will remain here, and you will yourself find your husband and bring him here to this house so that I may see him. Bring him here quickly, and by some way that my men cannot see his face. And then, Tui, when I have spoken to him, then for your sake and for his sake I will lie, and swear he is not the man I have been sent to take. Then, when my ship has gone, you—you and he—you must promise me this, Tui—must leave this island as quickly as possible; so that when Obadiah Howlman sends another warship here—as he will do—they may not discover that I am a liar and have been false to my duty.”
“Oh, sir, is this true? Surely you would not tell a lie to a poor native girl like me?”
“Go, my girl”—and Carteret placed a kindly hand on her shoulder—“go quickly to Parker—I know very well that he is not far off. He will believe what I say.”
For a moment she gazed intently into his face, as if she would read his soul; and then seizing his hand pressed it to her lips, and went out by the door that opened at the rear of the house.
Then the lieutenant opened the front door and walked slowly across to where the marines were standing.
“Take your men out of sight, sergeant. I don't want this fellow frightened until I know who he is. If he's the man we want, we'll have no trouble in getting him. I've induced his wife to go and bring him.”
Whistling softly in an unconcerned manner, he turned back and stood at the door of the house and waited there for perhaps ten minutes, until he saw the girl returning with a white man, who appeared to be ill and weak, for he had on a heavy top-coat, and a shawl wrapped round his neck in such a way that his features were almost entirely hidden.
Lieutenant Carteret allowed the man and woman to enter, and then followed, closing the door after him.