"Come back, come back. Tell me all."
"I reckon not," rejoined the mariner, removing Braddock's grip.
"You ain't the one to give the money. I'll go to the Don, or to
Inspector Date of Pierside."
"But Sir Frank must be innocent," insisted Braddock.
"He's got to prove it," was the dry response. "Let me go."
"No. You must tell me on what grounds--"
"Oh, the devil take you!" said Hervey hastily, and sat down on
one of the hall chairs. "It's this way, since you won't let me
skip until I tell you. This almighty aristocrat came to Pierside
on the same afternoon as I cast anchor. While Bolton was on
board, he looked in to have a yarn of sorts."
"What about?"
"Now, how in creation should I know?" snapped the skipper. "I
wasn't on hand, as I'd enough to do with unloading cargo. But
his lordship went with Bolton to the state-room, and they talked
for half an hour. When they came out, I saw that his lordship
had his hair riz, and heard him saying things to Bolton."
"What sort of things?"
"Well, for one, he said, `You'll repent of this,' and then again,
`Your life isn't safe while you keep it.'"
"Meaning the mummy?"
"I reckon that's so, unless I am mistaken," said Hervey serenely.
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