To this Phinuit made no reply other than a non-committal grunt; and presently Lanyard added:
"It is hardly possible--eh?--that the officers and crew know nothing of what is intended with all the champagne you have recently taken aboard."
"They're no fools. They know there's enough of the stuff on board to do a Cunarder for the next ten years, and they know, too, there's no lawful way of getting it into the States."
"So, then! They know that. How much more may they not know?"
Phinuit turned a startled face to him. "What's that?" he demanded sharply.
"May they not have exercised their wits as well on the subject of your secret project, my friend?"
"What are you getting at?"
"One is wondering what these 'wise birds, as tough as they make them' would do if they thought you were--as you say--getting away with something at their expense as well as the owner's."
"What have you seen or heard?"
"Positively nothing. This is merely idle speculation."