“Finished?” cried Mackeller. “Finished? Bless my soul, we’ve only just begun. Do you understand that the tramp steamer _Rajah_, with some hundred and fifty hired thieves aboard, is making as fast as steam can push her through the waters, for your property, with intent to loot the same? Do you comprehend that that steamer has been loaded by myself with the most modern surface-mining machinery, with dynamite, with provisions, with every facility for the speedy robbing of those gold fields, and that you have given that pirate Schwartzbrod a document acquitting him of all liability in the premises?” “Yes, Peter, I suppose things are very much as you state them, but your tone implies that somehow I am to blame in the matter. I assure you that it is not my fault, but the fault of circumstances. Then why worry about a thing I am not in the least responsible for? You are not censuring me, I hope?” “No, my lord, I have no right to censure you whatever happens.” “Oh, don’t let any question of right suppress a just indignation, Mackeller. If you think I’m guilty of negligence, pray give expression to your feelings by the use of any combination of words that brings relief. Don’t mind me. I really very much admire the use of terse language, although I have been denied the gift of emphatic denunciation myself.” “Don’t you intend to do anything, my lord?” “Yes, I intend to enjoy my breakfast, and really, if you knew how tasty this coffee is, you would yield to my pleadings and indulge in at least one cup.” “Don’t you propose to prosecute that scoundrel Schwartzbrod?” “Prosecute? Bless my soul, what for?” “For the trick he played on you and my father. He got that exculpating document from you under false pretenses.” “Not at all, not at all. I made certain stipulations; he complied with them. I then gave him the exculpating document, as you call it, and there it ends. If I had been gifted with second sight, this vision would have revealed to me that the clever Schwartzbrod had caused the _Rajah_ to sail with you a prisoner in her hold. But Schwartzbrod is not to blame because I possess no clairvoyant power, now is he?” “You will do nothing, then?” “My dear boy, there’s nothing to do.” “Don’t you intend to stop these pirates from mining your gold, and getting it aboard the _Rajah?_” “Certainly not: why should I?” “Nor give information to the authorities?” “Of course not. The authorities have more information now than they can use.” “Then you will not even tell the police?” “The police are a land force: they cannot take a rowboat and chase the _Rajah_, and if they could they wouldn’t catch her, so what’s the good of asking impossibilities from either Scotland Yard or the Foreign Office?” “You have no intention, then, of interfering with this band of gold robbers?” “Oh, no.” “You’re going to take it lying down?”