"But," he went on slowly, "the chances of it are very remote. If there is any killing, it will come later. Keith will be kept out of the way." "And after?" "You hint of an assignation. I will arrange for witnesses." "Where does the money come in?" she demanded. Morrell floundered for a moment. He had lost sight of the money. "It comes from certain parties who want Keith put out of the way," he said. "And suppose Keith is not put out of the way?" she began, her facile mind pouncing on the weakness of this statement. "Never mind," she interrupted herself. "I'll do it!" Her face had hardened again, "Can you depend on Sansome to go through with it?" "Only if he's fairly drunk." "Yes?" "I'll attend to that. That is my job. You may not see me to-morrow; but go in the evening to call on her." "It looks absolutely preposterous," she said at last, "but it may work. And, if any part of it works, that'll be enough." "Yes," said he. They had both forgotten the money. LXIX As Morrell had surmised, Keith decided to pass on the news for what it was worth. The committee believed it, and was filled with consternation at the incredible folly of the projected show of armed force. "This is not peace, but war," said Coleman, "which we are trying to avert!" The Executive Committee went into immediate session. It was now evident that the disbanding would have to be indefinitely postponed. An extraordinary program to meet the emergency was discussed piecemeal. One of its details had to do with the shipment of arms from Benicia. The committee here fell neatly into the trap prepared for it. In all probability no one clearly realized the legal status of the muskets, but all supposed them already to belong to the State that was threatening to use them. Charles Doane, instructed to take the steps necessary to their capture, called to him the chief of the harbour police. "Have you a small vessel ready for immediate service?" he asked this man. "Yes, a sloop, at the foot of this street." "Be ready to sail in half an hour." Doane then turned the job over to a trustworthy, quick-witted man named John Durkee. The latter selected twelve to assist him, among whom was Keith, at the latter's especial request. Morrell, loitering near, saw this band depart for the water front, and followed them far enough to watch them embark, to witness the hoisting of the sloop's sails, and to see the craft heel to the evening breeze and slip away around the point. All things were going well. The committee suspected nothing of the plot to fasten the crime of piracy on it; Keith was out of the way. Morrell turned on his heel and walked rapidly to his rendezvous with Sansome.