"Many things, Mr. Gowrie, and I would point out to you that blustering will not improve the situation. You are in my power." "Aye, but this is a law-abiding country, and----" "Oh," Captain Kyles shrugged his shoulders, "the law has no power on board this craft. I am the law." "Ye're a Scotchmon, and thereby a subject o' His Mawjesty Edward First o' Scotland, for never wull I ca' him Seeventh o' yon kingdom. And as a subject o' Edward o' Scotland aforesaid, I command ye tae pit me ashore, and pay me siller for moral damages." "Like old Kruger. Eh?" said Kyles, pleasantly, "you're an old rip, Mr. Gowrie, and I'm going to bring you to book." "In the name of your King----" "I haven't got one. I'm Scotch by birth and name, cosmopolitan by choice. I was the admiral of the Indiana navy, but since the revolution, I am a wanderer on the face of the earth." "Aye," Gowrie unconsciously stretched for the drink, and filled himself a full glass, "we're beginning tae unnerstan the seetuation, my mon. Yer a gipsy o' sorts." "A gipsy of the sea." "An' a black-hearted villain at that." "You'll find me so if you don't keep a civil tongue in your head, Mr. Gowrie. Permit me to remind you that you are drinking my whisky, and therefore cannot afford to vilify your host." "I'm here against ma wull." "Yes. And here you will stop until you give me certain information regarding the murder of Sir Simon Tedder." "I ken naethin'," said the old man sullenly. "Aye, but ye ken muckle," mocked Kyles, "I can talk the Scottice tongue as well as you, sir. You said at the 'Marsh Inn' that you wanted to have a crack, so I brought you here to have it." "Then ye kidnapped me wi' intention?" Captain Kyles nodded carelessly, produced a cigarette and swung back in his chair as he lighted it. "From what you hinted at the inn, I saw that you were poking your nose into matters which do not concern you." "Aye, but ma son-in-law----" "Quite so, Mr. Gowrie. You are playing his hand, and I am swinging on my own hook. When I left the tap-room on business promising to return, I intended to bring the motor-launch up the creek, and collar you. She was lying in the river on the other side of the station, having brought me from this ship." "And am I at Pierside near the wharf?" asked Gowrie, thinking he could escape if he was in touch with Mother Earth. "No. You are on board my yacht, and she is swinging at anchor off Tarhaven. If you go on deck you'll be able to see the lights of the town a quarter of a mile away." "I'll gie the alarrum," and Gowrie rose unsteadily. Kyles made a long arm and pushed him back on to the divan. "Sit tight," said Kyles, "and drink your whisky. You'll need it before I've done with you." "Ye mean tae do an auld mon harrum?"