His chance lay in
Mason's curiosity. It would be almost impossible for the man not to
watch for his ancient enemy.
At two minutes to twelve, as the whistle boomed its warning to visitors
to go ashore, Haggerty put his hard-palmed hand on Mason's shoulder.
The man, intent on watching the gangplank, turned quickly, sagged, and
fell back against the rail.
"Come along," said Haggerty, not unkindly.
Mason sighed. "One question. Did Mr. Crawford advise you where to
look for me?"
"No. I found you myself, Mr. Mason; all alone. It was a sporting
proposition; an' you'd have won out if y' hadn't been human like
everybody else, an' watched for me. Come along!"
CHAPTER XXVI
It remains for me, then, to relate how Thomas escaped that arm of the
law equally as relentless as that of the police--the customs.
Perfectly innocent of intent, he was none the less a smuggler.
Killigrew took him before the Collector of the Port, laid the matter
before him frankly, paid the duty, and took the gems over to Tiffany's
expert, who informed him that these sapphires were the originals from
which his daughter's had been copied, and were far more valuable.
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