"Is this all your evidence?"
"It's enough, I guess."
"Not to procure a warrant."
"Why, a man in the States would be electrocuted on half the evidence."
"I daresay," retorted the little man with contempt, "but we are in
a land where justice of the purest prevails. All your evidence is
circumstantial. It proves nothing."
The captain was considerably nettled.
"I calculate that it proves Sir Frank wanted the mummy, else why did he
come on board my ship to see your infernal assistant. The words he
used showed that he was warning Bolton how he'd do for him. And then he
talked through the window, and was in the public-house, which ain't a
place for an almighty aristocrat to shelter in. I guess he's the man
wanted by the police. Why," added Hervey, warming to his tale, "he'd a
slap-up yacht laying near the blamed hotel, and could easily ship the
corpse, after slipping it through the window. When he got tired of it,
and looted the emeralds, he took it by boat, below the Fort, to Mrs.
Jasher's garden and left it there, so as to pull the wool over the eyes
of the police. It's as clear as mud to me. You search his lorship's
shanty, and you'll find the emeralds."
"It is strange," muttered Braddock unwillingly.
"Strange, but not true," said a voice from the head of the stairs, and
young Hope came down leisurely, with a pale face, but a very determined
air. "Random is absolutely innocent."
"How do you know?" demanded the skipper contemptuously.
"Because he is an English gentleman and my very good friend."
"Huh! I guess that defense won't save him from being lynched."
Meanwhile Braddock was looking irritably at Archie.
"You've been listening to a private conversation, sir. How dare you
listen?"
"If you hold private conversations at the top of your voices in the
hall, you must be expected to be listened to," said Archie coolly. "I
plead guilty, and I am not sorry."
"When did you come?"
"In time to hear all that Captain Hervey has explained. I was chatting
with Lucy, and had just left her, when I heard your loud voices."
"Has Lucy heard anything?"
"No. She is busy in her room. But I'll tell her," Hope turned to mount
the stairs; "she likes Random, and will no more believe him guilty than
I do at this present moment."
"Stop!" cried Braddock, flying forward to pull Hope back, as he placed
his foot on the first stair. "Tell Lucy nothing just now. We must go to
the Fort, you--and I, to see Random. Hervey, you come also, and then you
can accuse Sir Frank to his face."
"If he dares to do it!" said Archie, who looked and felt indignant.