“Castelli, you and I have got to have a heart-to-heart talk. Here and now is a good time. Castelli, you distrust me.”
The Italian started, made a gesture of protest. The doctor strode up to him.
“Oh, I’ve noticed it for some time. The others, too. All of you distrust me. If I thought there was anything in the nature of a conspiracy between you, I’d blow you to hell this instant.”
The doctor was glowering down at the Italian. With a savage gesture he drew a revolver.
Castelli looked at him coolly.
“Go ahead, doctor,” he said. “As a matter of fact I don’t distrust you, but I can’t answer for the other two. You must admit that things aren’t very clear. You played all the other men false. You left them stranded on the Italian shore without a sou of the money. You brought it here for us to make a divide. Then you told us you had lost it; that it had been stolen from you by that fool of an Englishman in a manner you must admit to be fantastic. Can you blame them if they think you want to bilk them, too? Now, personally, I believe you; but if we don’t find this Englishman and recover the money, I give you fair warning there is likely to be trouble. It’s no use threatening me, doctor. Remember we are three against one, and none of us very squeamish about taking life.”
“By God, it’s true, Castelli. I’ve been outwitted, and by a fool. Aye, that’s what hurts. He must have spied on me at the hotel. I could not take the bag about with me everywhere. He profited by an hour’s absence, only an hour, to get possession of it. He’s got it, got it all. He’s hidden it till he can come back safely and get it away. That’s why we’ve got to find him, got to hunt him down. He mustn’t leave the island. He’s here somewhere in these cursed wilds. He must not escape us. We’ve got to get him, Castelli; and, when we do, I’ll torture him till he tells; then kill him afterwards with my own hands. Ha! that will be the happiest moment in my life,—when I kill the dog.”
“Well,” said Castelli, “we haven’t got him yet! There’s no use wasting time; it’s evident he’s not here.”
“Leave no stone unturned. It was just a chance that he might have taken refuge with this Rocco. Where is the fellow? He might at least be able to give us some information.”
“Gone off hunting probably. Still he’s been here not so long ago. See, the ashes of his fire are still hot.”