"Lord keep me fro' murder," gasped Strange, piously. "Say, ma'am, ain't you afeared?" "Awfully! And as there are several policemen within call----" "Bring 'em up--bring 'em all up, right along." "I will, if you do not go away"; and she reached for the bell. "Snakes! Y' mus' hev a card up your sleeve." "Perhaps I have." "Or y' may be bluffin'." "Perhaps I am. Don't you think it would be better if you sat down and talked pleasantly?" "If I'd a wife like you," commenced the captain, obeying, "I'd----" "I am quite sure you would. Bullies like you always enjoy wife-beating." "I ain't a bully"; he wiped his face with a flaunting red bandana handkerchief, breathing heavily. "Yes, you are, and a coward, who thought to frighten me. Now I am about to frighten you." "Huh!" Strange laughed scornfully. "There ain't man, woman, or kid kin make me sing small. Though I don't deny," he added gracefully, "as you'd make Old Nick squirm." "Thanks, but I am rather tired of costermonger compliments. Come to business. You accuse me of being mixed up in a conspiracy?" "Well, an' ain't it true?" "As gospel, between ourselves. To the world it is a lie." "I bet you can't prove 'tis so," sneered the sailor. "Proof is not required. Denial is." "Not when I'm in th' witness-box." "Not when you're in the dock, you mean, my good man." Her visitor grew purple. "Me--in th' dock!" he thundered. "Lower your voice, please, or I shall order my servants to turn you out. Yes--in the dock, your natural place. This conspiracy of yours." "Engineered for your little game, mind," he gasped. "Not at all. I have nothing to do with it"; her hard eyes held him as he blankly considered her astonishing impudence. "You tell me that Dr. Demetrius buried a man at Funchal in place of Mr. Garth, and then, when Mr. Garth died on board your ship, sent home his body as that of my husband. As Mr. Garth and my husband resembled one another closely, I can see how I and the family were mistaken when we beheld the substituted corpse. But I do not understand why my husband should have consented to this, no more than I understand how you dare accuse me of conspiring." "But I do, you bet, ma'am. You played low down on a company." "Where is your proof?" "You've got the dollars." She played a bold stroke. "Ignorant that the money was paid under false pretences. It shall be given back." Strange turned white and jumped up. "My share!" he cried.