“So I thought, until last night, when I witnessed a performance not intended for my eyes. That fellow, who has shipped with us as steward, and calls himself William Trace, is a detective, and he is after you.”
“Good God! how do you know that?”
“He has got a very good outfit in the way of disguise. That bushy beard of his is false. So is his wig. And I happen to know that he saw you bring the diamonds out of your berth into mine. And that reminds me. I want to have a look into that same berth of yours.”
“For God’s sake, don’t trifle with me. Is what you say about the steward true?”
“Yes, it’s true enough, curse him.”
“Then I’m lost.”
“I don’t know about that. Anyhow, I don’t mean to give in, and lose what I got last night, without a struggle.”
“But what can we do if the thing is found out already?”
“There are a good many things which desperate men can do. But, before we decide anything further, we’ll go below again, while our enemy is in the galley.”
Suiting the action to the word, the confederates proceeded to Mr. Torrens’s berth.