The outcome of this meeting was that Mr. Shallop, under the mellow influence of strong waters, said more than he would have done had he been in his sober senses. Recovering from his maudlin state he found himself in custody. Having no belief in the worn proverb concerning honour amongst thieves, and perhaps fully convinced that his partner in crime had been lost in the disaster to the _West Barbican_, Joseph Shales confessed to a minor part in the United Trusts Bank frauds, at the same time laying the blame upon the missing Benjamin Skeets. The immediate result was that directly the news was cabled that more survivors from the _West Barbican_, including Mrs. Shallop, had been landed at Pangawani, the Kilba Protectorate Police were instructed to arrest the much-wanted Benjamin. Before Mostyn left to go on board the _Quilboma_ he had an opportunity of saying farewell to Olive, and at the same time telling her of the astounding news. "And to think that she--or, rather, he--bluffed the whole jolly lot of us," he added. "Even the Old Man and Doctor Selwyn were taken in completely." "Not all of us, Peter," rejoined the girl softly. "I knew--but not at first." "By Jove!" ejaculated the astonished Mostyn. "You did? When did you?" "Not until the _West Barbican_ was sinking," replied Olive. "I found it out then: I couldn't help it. Of course, I didn't know exactly what to do, and I knew nothing whatever of the crime she--I mean, he--had committed. But I meant to tell you some day, Peter." "We are well rid of him," remarked Mostyn. "Yes," agreed the girl thoughtfully. Then, after a pause, she added frankly. "But if it had not been for Mrs. Shallop I might never have met you, Peter." Mostyn departed radiantly upon the voyage on which depended the fate of the Brocklington Ironworks Company's contract. It was not until the day following that Davis, in his official capacity, completed the inspection of the dhow. When he came to knock off the lid of the box in which Mostyn had nailed up the gold and silver coins, he found that, although the seals were intact, the money had vanished. Davis gave a low whistle. "That stuff's been lifted before the dhow put into Pangawani," he declared to his assistant. "The seals being intact proves that." His companion laughed. "After sneaking L30,000 friend Skeets wouldn't scruple to lift that little lot," he remarked. "S'pose so," conceded Davis. "We'll go and report the loss; but I'm afraid that Mrs. Shallop has got well away with it this time."