"I dunno rightly," replied Mr. Brill stolidly. "I wasn't in the house that night, or I'd ha' found out. But master ran away, because he knew you'd accuse him out of spite. But Mr. Barkham, of Falmouth, believed master was innocent, and know'd where he was, and what was his new name. 'Twas he wrote the letter saying as Captain Jean was on his way to England to make trouble." "Barkham!" muttered Lestrange. "Ah! he was always my enemy." "A shark like you, Captain Jean, ain't got no friends," remarked Joe sententiously. "Do you think that Barkham's letter caused Mr. Marlow's death?" asked Alan. "Do I think it, sir? Why, I knows it! After twenty years of hearing nothing, the shock, as you might say, killed my master." "Then he was guilty, and my accusation was a righteous one to make," chimed in Lestrange. "A clean conscience fears nothing." "Mr. Beauchamp's conscience was a darned sight cleaner nor yourn, Captain Jean, but you had the whip-hand of him, as all those in Jamaica thought he'd murdered Munseer Achille, from them quarreling about him coming after his wife. But master didn't do it--I swear he didn't! More like you did it yourself," added Joe, with a look of contempt, "though I dare say you ain't man enough to stick a knife into any one." Alan thought for a few minutes, then turned to Lestrange. "I think you must see that you have failed all round," he said quietly. "Your plot to pass as Miss Marlow's father is of no use now. The accusation against me is not worth considering, as I have shown. If necessary, I can defend myself. On the whole, Captain Lestrange, you had better go back to Jamaica." "Not without my price," said the adventurer. "Ah, blackmail! Well, I always thought that was at the bottom of it all. A man with clean hands and honorable intentions would not have joined hands with a confessed rogue like Cicero Gramp. But may I ask on what grounds you demand money?" "I can prove that Beauchamp killed my cousin." "What good will that do? Beauchamp is dead, and beyond your malice." "Ay, that he is," said Joe approvingly. "He's gone where you won't get him. I reckon you'll go the other way when your time comes, you blasted swab!" Lestrange, writhing under these insults, jumped up and poured out a volley of abuse, which the seaman bore quite unmoved. "I'll not go without my money," he raged, "and a good sum, too, otherwise I shall see the girl----" "If you annoy Miss Marlow again, I'll have you arrested," said Alan sharply. "We don't permit this sort of thing in England." "I shall put the story of Beauchamp's wickedness in all the papers." "As you please. It cannot harm the dead." "And will that girl stand by and see her father's memory disgraced?" "You seem to forget," said Thorold, with quiet irony, "that he was not Miss Marlow's father. Well, there is no more to be said. If you make yourself a nuisance, the law shall deal with you."