“You are losing your nerve, Lazar,” the vice-consul’s voice sneered; “there is no one about.”
“You can’t tell, and anyway, this is not the place to discuss such matters,” Lazar said decidedly.
“As you please, but, by the way, I might as well tell you; I know you dare not betray me,” the vice-consul’s voice said menacingly, “and I need your help.”
The speakers changed their positions slightly and their voices failed to carry distinctly to the eager eavesdropper.
Phil trembled with expectancy at the startling intelligence he had received.
So Lazar had been tempted to do something for which his commission would be forfeited if found out. What a terrible weapon to hold over his enemy if he continued his persecution. What was the secret Juarez had confided to Lazar? The arms surely.
The voices had now died out entirely, and a shuffling of feet on deck told Phil that the minister was ready to leave the ship.
He told Sydney all he had heard as soon as they had returned to their room after the departure of the American minister.
“I am not surprised,” exclaimed Sydney, when Phil had finished his story. “Lazar is capable of anything evil. We have another person to reckon with, however, in this arms smuggling. If he suspects we are attempting to intercept them, Lazar will, in hatred of you, try to defeat your plan.”
“Hadn’t we better confide in Captain Taylor?” questioned Phil. “We can thus cut Lazar’s claws.”