If such were the case, however, he kept his feelings well under control, and we finished our meal without the least suggestion on either side of anything but the most perfect friendliness. After a cigar in the garden my companion went upstairs to pack his bag, and then, followed by Satan, we sauntered down to the landing-stage, where he proceeded to get out his boat. "Thanks for a charming evening," he said, shaking my hand. "Remember me to Drayton, and mind you come and look me up as soon as you get back." I made some suitable answer, and, settling down in his seat, he pulled off with the smooth, easy stroke of a practised oarsman. I stood and watched him till he reached the mouth of the creek, where he waved his hand to me before disappearing round the bend. Then I walked across to Satan, who was sitting by himself on the edge of the jetty staring resentfully after the vanished boat. "It's no good looking like that," I said. "If you had been a little more civil you would probably have been included in the invitation." I think he understood what I meant, for, rising to his feet with a disdainful expression, he strolled off ahead of me in the direction of the house. There were evidently some subjects on which he regarded humour as being completely out of place. When I arrived back I found Bascomb clearing away the breakfast things. "I am going up to town by the twelve-forty," I said. "I suppose I can get a trap at the inn to take me to Torrington?" He nodded his head. "They'll run you over right enough," he replied. "Mebbe I'd better slip across an' tell 'em though; they might be fixin' up with another party otherwise." He paused. "Are you comin' back to-night?" he enquired. "No," I said, "I have got some business with Mr. Drayton. I shall probably be down to-morrow, but if not I'll let you know." He finished clearing up and collected the debris on to a tray. "'Ow about visitors?" he enquired. "I s'pose you don't want no one on the island, not while you're away?" "There's one person I don't want," I said, "and that's Dr. Manning." I stopped, and then, feeling that I must at least make some appearance of taking him into my confidence, I added: "You were perfectly right about him, Bascomb. He's a rascal, only he's a damned clever one. I couldn't get anything out of him last night, try as I would. All the same, I'm more certain than ever that he's up to some dirty business." A gleam of approval flickered across my companion's face. "You can trust me safe enough, guv'nor," he returned. "'E won't set foot again in this 'ouse while I'm 'ere--not 'im nor that broken-nosed blighter Craill neither." He brought out the epithet so unexpectedly that it was all I could do to keep back a sudden exclamation. "Craill!" I repeated. "Isn't that the fellow who looks after his barge?" Once again Bascomb nodded sourly. "That's 'im--an' you can take it from me that 'e's the right bloke for the job."