And that afternoon he sent Selwyn ashore with a very polite note to the chief of the San Francisco police, saying that Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Dunn would be very glad to see that gentleman on board the _Triumphant_ late that evening, if he could make it convenient to come. "Let the band begin to play!" said Mr. Peter Cartwright; "it looks as if I'd better face the music. I wonder if he has any kinkle as to the man who did it? It's more than I have, unless it was Smith, or Sullivan." As he drew his five thousand dollars a year and pickings partly through the grace of both the notorious boarding-house keepers that he mentioned, he did not relish running against them. Nevertheless, it was better to do that than run against a mightier snag. He looked, with a groan, at the pile of correspondence which had accumulated since the admiral's disappearance. "And here's the British Consul wants to see me to-morrow!" he cried. "They'll cinch me if they can get no one else." And he went on board the _Triumphant_ feeling as if he was out of a job. The admiral received him courteously, and was alone. "This has been a bad business, admiral, sir," said Mr. Cartwright, "and as chief of police of this city I feel it as a personal slur. Your request to see me anticipated me by no more than twelve hours. I proposed to seek an interview with you to-morrow morning." "I am obliged to you," said the admiral. "Will you have anything to drink?" "It _was_ rather cold on the water," replied Cartwright. And when the chief of police had a tumbler of hot whiskey and water in both hands, the admiral opened up. "I've sent for you, Mr. Cartwright," he began, "to tell you that I don't want any proceedings taken about this matter." Cartwright opened his mouth and stared at the admiral in surprise. Then he began to imagine he understood. Sir Richard Dunn had evidently been somewhere on the night of his disappearance which would not suit him to have known. "Ah, I see," said Cartwright, with a subtle smile. "I've my own notions as to the brand of justice dispensed in this State, Mr. Cartwright. It is considerably milder than the native liquors. I want your assistance in doing without the law, and in administering justice myself. Have you any notion of the gentleman who shipped me in the _California_?" "It was probably a boarding-house master," said Cartwright. "Of course." "It might have been Sullivan, or the Sheeny, or Williams, or Smith." "Is that the scoundrel they know here as Shanghai Smith?" asked the admiral. And Cartwright nodded. "The crew of the _California_ put it down to him at once." "I don't know that it was necessary him," said Cartwright pensively; "though he has the worst name, he's no worse than the others. For my own part, I reckon the Sheeny--he's a Jew boy, of course--is a deal tougher than Smith." And just then Selwyn, who knew the chief of police was on board, put his head into the admiral's cabin.