"I thank you, no," he said. "There are many things to do, and the time is short. With your permission we will return to the deck."
CHAPTER XXI
THE SOLUTION
"And that," said Tony, leaning back in his chair, "is absolutely every damned thing that I could get out of him."
His three companions, Molly, Guy, and Jimmy, who were seated in various attitudes round the cabin table, surveyed him for a moment in deep and reflective silence.
Then Guy cleared his throat. "On the whole," he said, "I think you have managed remarkably well."
"I did my best," replied Tony modestly, "but he's a reticent blighter for a Colonel. I didn't dare pump him any further for fear that he might get suspicious. As it is I think he was half sorry he had told me as much as he had before I got him over the side."
"Well, we've collected quite a lot of interesting stuff to go on with," said Jimmy contentedly. "The great question is how are we going to use it?"
"Do you know where these two places are?" asked Tony. "The Château of Saint Anna—and the bridge at Valona?"
Jimmy nodded. "Both of 'em. There isn't a yard of this country I haven't tootled over at some time or other." He looked hopefully at Tony. "Have you got any bright notion at the back of your mind?"