He made no offer to take them, though I held them out to him on my
open palm, but fell back a step, and, after a glance at them, lifted
his eyes and met mine honestly, albeit with a trouble in his face.
"You found them?"
"Yes."
"To whom have you shown them?"
"To nobody."
"Yet there has been some inquiry?"
I nodded.
"At which you were present?"
I nodded again.
"And you said nothing of this--this piece of evidence? Why?
"Because"--I hesitated for a couple of seconds and then gulped
hesitation down--"because I could not believe that you--that you were
really--"
"Thank you, Harry."
"All the same, sir, your name was mentioned."
"Eh?" He was plainly astonished. "My name mentioned? But why?
How? since no one saw me here, and if, as you say, you hid this only
evidence--"
"It came up, sir, when they examined me about Captain Danny.
You know--do you not?--that they have found his body, too."
"I heard the news being cried in Truro streets as we came through.
Poor old Coffin! It is all mystery to me--mystery on mystery!
But how on earth should my name have come up in connection with him?"
"Why, about your teaching him navigation, sir."
Captain Branscome passed a hand over his forehead.
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