I had altered my tactics, deeming it best to assume a deeper knowledge of the affair than that which I really possessed. It was a delicate matter; this accusation must be dealt with diplomatically.
“My private opinion of you, sir, is that you are a confounded fool,” he said.
“I may be,” I responded. “But I intend that you, who enmeshed into your plot a defenceless woman, and who abducted me aboard so cleverly, in order to gain time, shall bear the exposure and punishment that you merit.”
He nodded slowly as though perfectly comprehending my meaning.
“Then I take it that Beryl is aware of your actual alliance with her?” he asked, his small eyes flashing at me.
But I made no satisfactory answer. I was wary of him, for I knew him to be a clever miscreant. His tone betrayed an anxiety to know the exact extent of Beryl’s knowledge.
“Beryl is my wife, and my interests are hers,” I replied. “It is sufficient that I am aware of the whole truth.”
“You think so,” he laughed with sarcasm. “Well, you are at liberty to hold your own opinion.”
“The fact is,” I said, “that you accepted Sir Henry’s invitation here, never dreaming that you would come face to face with me. I am the last person in the world you desired to meet.”
“The encounter has given me the utmost pleasure, I assure you,” he replied with a sneer.