Then the pause was brought to an end by the captain. He shifted his position abruptly, so that he towered over Iff, scowling down upon him.
“That will do,” he said ominously. “I’m tired of this; say what you will, you haven’t hoodwinked me, and you shan’t.”
“My dear sir!” protested Iff in amazement. “Hoodwink you? Why, I’m merely trying to make you see—”
“You’ve succeeded in making me see one thing clearly: that you know more about this robbery than you’ve any right to know.”
“Oh, you-all make me tired,” complained Iff. “Now you have just heard Miss Landis declare that this collar of pearls vanished between, say, five-thirty and five-forty-five. Well, I can prove by the testimony of three other passengers, and I don’t know how many more, to say nothing of your smoke-room stewards, that I was playing bridge from four until after six.”
“Ah, yes,” put in the purser sweetly, “but you yourself have just demonstrated conclusively that the robbery couldn’t have taken place at the hour mentioned.”
Iff grinned appreciatively. “You’re improving,” he said. “I guess that doesn’t get you even with me for the rest of your life—what?”
“Moreover,” Manvers went on doggedly, “Ismay always could prove a copper-riveted alibi.”
“That’s one of the best little things he does,” admitted Iff cheerfully.
“You don’t deny you’re Ismay?” This from the captain, aggressive and domineering.