"I think you said we were three days out? Then we ought to be not far from Nassau now."
"This gale has held us back a bit, but we ought to make port by daybreak tomorrow."
"One can send a cable there, of course . . ."
Either a mistrustful mind deceived Lanyard or the Englishman wasn't happy in his efforts to disguise a thrill of keen inquisitiveness.
"Of course; but why wait? Mean to say, there's our wireless at your service if you're keen to get some message off your mind, Mr. Duchemin."
"How stupid of me to forget." Lanyard's smile could be as charming as he chose, and he chose it to be entirely so just then, intent as he was on disarming one whom he had reason enough to think curiously hostile to him, in whose manner it was impossible to ignore an undercurrent of inexplicable animus. "But then you will be indulgent, remembering the circumstances. One question more, Doctor—?"
"Bright!" that person snapped curtly.
"Thank you. I am wondering . . . No doubt you saw me when or soon after I embarked?"
"Happened to be standin' by the head of the gang-plank when you came aboard, in point of fact."
"If you could tell me whether that event was marked by any unusual circumstances, such as might possibly shed light upon the riddle of why I came aboard at all—?"