"But surely not."
"Well ... can't be positive till I know you better.... I'm afraid you've got a tendency to overestimate the gullibility of people in general. It's either that, or.... No: I don't believe you're intentionally hypocritical, or self-deceived, either."
"But I don't understand...."
"Remember your promise.... But you seem to think it easy to put it over on us, mademoiselle, the skipper and me."
"But I assure you I have never had any such thought."
"Then why this funny story of yours--told with a straight face, too!--about wanting to get hold of the Montalais loot simply to slip it back to its owner?"
Lanyard felt with a spasm of anger constrict his throat; and knew that the restraint he imposed upon his temper was betrayed in a reddened face. Nevertheless his courteous smile persisted, his polite conversational tone was unchanged.
"Now you remind me of something. I presume, Captain Monk, it's not too late to send a note ashore to be posted?"
"Oh!" Monk's eyebrows protested violently--"a note!"
"On plain paper, in a plain envelope--and I don't in the least mind your reading it."