“Might I be permitted to inquire what disposition you have made of Madame Cadillac?”
“She is locked in her stateroom,” replied Nick. “She has not been harmed.”
For a moment after that the pirate was silent, and then, with the first show of sincerity he had manifested since the beginning of the interview, he said:
“Monsieur, I do not know who or what you are, but I suspect that you are in some manner connected with the police. If that is true, I wish to assure you that, no matter how guilty you may find me to be concerning certain events which have happened in this locality, she, Madame Cadillac, is entirely innocent.”
“I quite believe you,” replied Nick.
“Thank you, monsieur.”
“And now, will you add to that statement some further information that I desire?” asked the detective.
“No. I will tell you nothing. You seem to be quite competent to manage your own affairs. I do not even ask you how you got here, although I am extremely curious to know; but I suspect that you must have swum aboard while the Shadow was——”
“Lying across the bows of the Aurora. Exactly. You have guessed it.”
“It was a daring thing to do, monsieur; and there is still a more daring one ahead of you, for while I have been seated here I have been able to press with my foot an electric button which communicates with an alarm at the forward part of the vessel. Its constant ringing has brought my men to me on the run. They are at the door. They are here! In a moment I will be free, and you will be prisoners! Ah!”