"Mr. Wall," said Minot pleasantly, "allow me to present Mr. George Harrowby, the owner of the boat on which we now stand." "I beg our pardon," said Wall, without the quiver of an eyelash. "So careless of me. Don't stand, gentlemen. Have chairs--all of you." And he stared George Harrowby calmly in the eye. "You're flippant this morning," said the elder Harrowby. "We'll be glad to sit, thank you. And may I repeat what Mr. Minot has told you--I own this yacht." "Indeed?" Mr. Wall's face beamed. "You bought it from Wilson, I presume." "Just who is Wilson?" "Why--he's the man I rented it from in New York." "So that's your tale, is it?" Allan Harrowby put in. "You wound me," protested Mr. Wall. "That is my tale, as you call it. I rented this boat in New York from a man named Albert Wilson. I have the lease to show you, also my receipt for one month's rent." "I'll bet you have," commented Minot. "Bet anything you like. You come from a betting institution, I believe." "No, Mr. Wall, I did not buy the yacht from Wilson," said George Harrowby. "I've owned it for several years." "How do I know that?" asked Martin Wall. "Glance over that," said the elder Harrowby, taking a paper from his pocket. "A precaution you failed to take with Albert Wilson." "Dear, dear." Mr. Wall looked over the paper and handed it back. "Can it be that Wilson was a fraud? I suggest the police, Mr. Harrowby. I shall be very glad to testify." "I suggest the police, too," said Minot hotly, "for Mr. Martin Wall. If you thought you had a right on this boat, Wall, why did you throw me overboard into the North River when I mentioned the name of Lloyds?" Mr. Wall regarded him with pained surprise. "I threw you overboard because I didn't want you on my boat," he said. "I thought you understood that fully." "Nonsense," Minot cried. "You stole this boat by bribing the caretaker, and when I mentioned Lloyds, famous the world over as a marine insurance firm, you thought I was after you, and threw me over the rail. I see it all very clearly now." "You're a wise young man----" "Mr. Wall," George Harrowby broke in, "it may interest you to know that we don't believe a word of the Wilson story. But it may also interest you to know that I am willing to let the whole matter drop--on one condition." "What's that?" "My brother Allan here borrowed five thousand dollars from you the other night, and gave you as security a bit of paper quite worthless to any one save himself. Accept my check for five thousand and hand him back the paper." Mr. Wall smiled. He reached into his inner coat pocket. "With the greatest pleasure," he said. "Here is the--er--the document." He laughed. Then, noting the check book on the elder Harrowby's knee, he added: "There was a little matter of interest----" "Not at all!" George Harrowby looked up. "The interest is forfeited to pay wear and tear on this yacht."