“And for furnishing you with the code of signals?”
“Imperially—imperially.”
“That is well—never underpay in these matters.”
“Do not fear! I emptied my pockets. And as to the information you have received through me—rely on it as you would on the Bank of England.”
“You have been deceived and befooled,” said Oliver, unable to resist the chance of delivering a slap at a man for whom he entertained a peculiar aversion, having heard much concerning him from his father.
“What do you mean?”
“That the shilling you gave the clerk for his information, and the half-crown for his signal table were worth what you got—the information was false, and was intended to mislead.”
Scantlebray colored purple. “What do you know? You know nothing. You are in league with them.”
“Take care what you say,” said Oliver.
“I maintain,” said Scantlebray, somewhat cowed by his demeanor, “that what I have said to the captain here is something of which you know nothing—and which is of importance to him to know.”