Somewhat surprised by Steingall's tone, the other obeyed. At the station-house a policeman, called from the men's quarters, where he was quietly reading and smoking, stated that he was on duty in the neighborhood between eight o'clock the previous evening and four o'clock that morning. He remembered seeing a car, similar to the one standing outside, pass about 9.15 P.M. It contained two people, he believed, but could not be sure, as the screens were raised owing to the rain. He did not see the car again; some drunken sailors required attention during the small hours. The local police captain and several men in plain clothes were asked to assemble quietly on Smith's Pier. A message was sent to the river police, and a launch requisitioned to patrol near the _Wild Duck_. Finally, Steingall, who was a born strategist, and whose long experience of cross-examining counsel rendered him wary before he took irrevocable steps in cases such as this, where a charge might fail on unforeseen grounds, made inquiries from a local ship's chandler as to the _Wild Duck_, her cargo, and her destination. There was no secret about her. She was loading with stores for Costa Rica. The consignees were a syndicate, and both Carshaw and Steingall recognized its name as that of the venture in which Senator Meiklejohn was interested. "Do you happen to know if there is any one on board looking after the interests of the syndicate?" asked the detective. "Yes. A big fellow has been down here once or twice. He's going out as the manager, I guess. His name was--let me see now--" "Voles?" suggested Steingall. "No, that wasn't it. Oh, I've got it--Vane, it was." Carshaw, dreadfully impatient, failed to understand all this preliminary survey; but the detective had no warrant, and ship's captains become crusty if their vessels are boarded in a peremptory manner without justification. Moreover, Steingall quite emphatically ordered Carshaw to remain on the wharf while he and others went on board. "You want to strangle Voles, if possible," he said. "From what I've heard of him he would meet the attempt squarely, and you two might do each other serious injury. I simply refuse to permit any such thing. You have a much more pleasant task awaiting you when you meet the young lady. No one will say a word if you hug her as hard as you like." Carshaw, agreeing to aught but delay, promised ruefully not to interfere. When the river police were at hand a nod brought several powerfully built officers closing in on the main gangway of the _Wild Duck_. The police-captain, in uniform, accompanied Steingall on board. A deck hand hailed them and asked their business. "I want to see the captain," said the detective. "There he is, boss, lookin' at you from the chart-house now."