"They all want to talk shop--this expedition against the Pirate," said Mr. Merriman. "You and I can have a little chat." Desmond was attracted by the open face of his new acquaintance, slightly disfigured, as he noticed, by a long scar on the left temple. "You’re plucky and lucky," continued Merriman, "and in spite of what Mr. Clive calls your bad start in bowling me over, you’ll do well." His face clouded as he went on: "That man Diggle: why should he have sold you to the Pirate: what had he against you?" "I cannot imagine, sir." "You are lucky to have escaped him, as Mr. Clive said. I think--yes, I will tell you about him. His name is not Diggle; it is Simon Peloti. He is a nephew of Sir Willoughby. His mother married a Greek, against her brother’s wish; the man died when the child was a year old. As a boy Peloti was as charming a little fellow as one could wish: handsome, high-spirited, clever. He did well at school, and afterwards at Cambridge: won a fellowship there. Then he went to the dogs--not all at once; men never do. He was absolutely without principle, and thought of nothing but his own ease and success. One thing led to another; at last, in the ’45----" He paused. After a moment he went on: "I had a brother, my lad----" He stopped again, his face expressing poignant grief. "I know, sir," said Desmond. "Sir Willoughby told me." "He told you! And he did not mention Peloti?" "No, sir; but I see it all now. It was Diggle--Peloti, I mean--who betrayed your brother. I understand now why the Squire took no steps against Grinsell. His accomplice was Diggle." He related the incident of the housebreakers. "Yes," said Merriman, "that throws a light on things. Peloti, I imagine, had previously seen the Squire, and tried to get money from him. Sir Willoughby refused: he gave him a thousand pounds ten years ago on condition he left the country and did not return. So the villain resolved to rob him. ’Twas fortunate indeed you appeared in time. That is the reason for his hating you." "There was another, sir," said Desmond with some hesitation. "He thought I was hankering after the Squire’s property--aiming at becoming his heir. ’Twas ridiculous, sir; such an idea never entered my head." "I see. Peloti came to India and got employment in the Company’s service at Madras. But he behaved so badly that he had to be turned out--he said Mr. Clive hounded him out. What became of him after that I don’t know. But let us leave the miserable subject. Tell me, what are your ideas? What are you going to do now that you are a free man once more? Get another berth as supercargo?" His eyes twinkled as he said this. "No thank you, sir; once bit twice shy. I haven’t really thought of anything definite, but what I should like best of all would be a cadetship under Colonel Clive."