Jarman nearly uttered an exclamation of surprise, for Balkis was the name of the negress in the portrait which Lancaster had seen in Starth's rooms. Berry didn't seem pleased at Natty's speech, and Fan frowned. But they both laughed indulgently. "It isn't Balkis," said Berry, "but a marine officer I'm seeing in connection with Lancaster. He's left the country, and I think I know the ship he's skipped by." "That's clever of you," said Jarman, rising to take his leave. "If you catch him, Captain, you'll do more than the police." "Huh!" scoffed Berry. "Your police are fools. Most people in this old country are. I can squash the lot of them. Lancaster too, you bet!" Eustace laughed when on his way home. He was pretty certain that, having already made a false start about Lancaster, Berry would _not_ squash him. Jarman hoped to gather a great deal from Natty's prattle. CHAPTER X A QUEER MARK Frank was not at all pleased when he heard that Denham was coming down to the Shanty. The experiment was too risky, as there was every chance that the young man would recognise him, in which case he would at once put the revengeful Berry on the scent. But Jarman did not look at the matter in this light, and explained himself after sundry questions. "Have you met Denham often?" he asked. "Yes. He was always dodging round the Berry establishment." "I thought he lived with them." "No, he had diggings some way off. Berry, so he told me, is a kind of guardian to him." "Does a man require a guardian at the age of twenty-three?" "Denham's twenty-five. He's almost the same age as I am, although I look older," said Lancaster; "and I should think, seeing what a fool he is, that he will require a guardian all his life." "Then you think he's more fool than knave?" asked Eustace, ruminating. Frank nodded emphatically. "I don't think he's a rascal at all, whatever the Captain may be. Denham's just a silly, good-natured ass, who would give his head away. He has a weak will, and is quite under the thumb of Berry." "Did you fraternise with Denham?" "No. His cackle got on my nerves. But he knows me well enough to spot me should I betray myself." "Then you must not betray yourself," said Eustace, decidedly. "So far as looks go, he won't know you. I would defy even a detective to penetrate your disguise." "Denham may twig me by my voice." "I don't think from what I saw of him that he is so observant. Besides, I shall give you something to roughen your voice. You can say you have a cold." Frank stared at his friend. "You seem to be up to all the tricks." Jarman nodded. "I thought of being a detective myself once, and I practised for a time. I have all the materials for disguise here. I told you so when I made you up as Desmond O'Neil. I can get into the skin of a character with ease, and that's what you have to do. You are not Frank Lancaster, remember, but Desmond O'Neil from County Kerry." "But, I say, Eustace, why do you want Denham down here?"