"
"That's just as you state, sir. I was sorry to miss you, but, my
time being valuable, I had to get back to Pierside. Failing you,
I later came to see the Professor here, and told him what I had
discovered."
"You merely discovered a mare's nest," said Random
contemptuously; "but this is not the point. I believe that you,
and you only, could have hidden that manuscript among my books,
intending that it should be discovered, so that I might be
implicated in this crime."
"Did your flunky tell you that much?" inquired Hervey coolly.
"My servant told me nothing, save that you had been in my room,
where you had no right to be."
"Then," said the American quietly and decisively, "I can't see,
sir, how you can place the ticket on me."
"You accuse me, so why should I not accuse you?" retorted Random.
"Because you are guilty, and I ain't," snapped the American.
"You join issue: you join issue," murmured Braddock, rubbing his
hands.
Random took no notice of the interruption.
"I have heard from Mr. Hope and Professor Braddock of the grounds
upon which you base your accusation, and I have explained to them
how I came to be on board your ship and both in and out of the
Sailor's Rest.
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