Martin went back. He noticed, as he drew close to the other, that the envelope he had given the captain lay empty and torn on the table.
"Well, what is it? What trick?" he demanded shortly.
"What trick!" mimicked Carew. "Look here. Is this what you were to deliver to me?"
He thrust the sheaf of papers beneath Martin's nose. They were sheets of blank, white paper, and they had been creased by folding.
"This is what that precious envelope contained," continued Carew. "Tell me, what —— foolery is this? Where is that code translation? Where are my instructions? Where are my clearance papers? Hey—you staring fool!"
"Stop that!" flared Martin. "You moderate your tone when you speak to me! If you have any complaint to make about the contents of that envelope, make them to Josiah Smatt, and that Dr. Ichi. I know nothing about the contents. The envelope was given to me sealed, and I delivered it to you sealed."
"It has been tampered with," declared Carew.
"It has not," asserted Martin. "I have had it in my pocket, on my person, since Smatt gave it to me. I delivered it to you with the contents intact. If you found those blank sheets within, they were placed there before I received the envelope."
Carew favored Martin with a steely and searching stare; and Martin, ablaze with resentment, stared boldly back. Martin's bearing, and his positive statements, evidently impressed the captain.
"You had better take the matter up with the men who sent me here," said Martin. "I have finished with my part of the affair. I wish to go."