If ever a man felt like kicking himself it was Arnold Hythe at that moment. He had missed his appointment; and in Captain Restronguet's eyes he would be regarded as a waster devoid of any sense of honour or gratitude.
"Have you seen anything of two divers?" he asked, addressing the crowd that lingered about the landing; for, though the time fixed for his departure had been kept a secret, a curious throng had loitered there nearly all day.
"Yes," shouted a dozen voices in chorus, and amid a babel of vociferations the sub contrived to gain the information that they had appeared quite half an hour ago, had waited ten minutes and had disappeared.
"Are you quite sure they went before six?" asked Hythe.
"Perfectly sure, sir, it was exactly ten minutes to six when they went down," replied a sailor confidently.
Then the thought flashed across his mind, perhaps Captain Restronguet had purposely marooned him? An instant later he banished the suggestion, yet why should Kenwyn and Gwennap have returned before the appointed time?
Hythe resolved to wait and see if anything fresh transpired. The crowd increased, several naval officers and dockyard officials mingling in the throng. Presently the Admiral came down and asked if he should order anything to be done to attract the "Aphrodite's" attention.
"They may come back even yet, sir," replied the sub. "I'll wait a little longer."
"If you hear nothing by seven you may as well have dinner at Admiralty House, Mr. Hythe," observed the Admiral.
Just at that moment two men in uniform arrived carrying Hythe's trunk. The thief had been caught and was under lock and key.