The Black Box Part 44

The Professor, in a borrowed overcoat and cap, was reclining at full length, studying a book on seagulls which he had found in the library.

Laura and Lenora were both dozing tranquilly. Mr. Harris of Scotland Yard was deep in a volume of detective stories.

"As a pleasure cruise," Quest remarked grimly, "this little excursion seems to be a complete success."

Laura opened her eyes at once.

"Trying to get my goat again, eh?" she retorted. "I suppose that's what you're after. Going to tell me, I suppose, that it wasn't Craig I saw board this steamer?"

"We are all liable to make mistakes," Quest observed, "and I am inclined to believe that this is one of yours."

Laura's expression was a little dogged.

"If he's too clever for you and Mr. Harris," she said, "I can't help that.

I only know that he came on board. My eyes are the one thing in life I do believe."

"If you'll excuse my saying so, Miss Laura," Harris ventured, leaning deferentially towards her, "there isn't a pa.s.senger on board this s.h.i.+p, or a servant, or one of the crew, whom we haven't seen. We've been into every stateroom, and we've even searched the hold. We've been over the s.h.i.+p, backwards and forwards. The Captain's own steward has been our guide, and we've conducted an extra search on our own account. Personally, I must say I have come to the same conclusion as Mr. Quest. At the present moment there is no such person as the man we are looking for, on board this steamer."

"Then he either changed on to another one," Laura declared obstinately, "or else he jumped overboard."

Harris, who was a very polite man, gazed thoughtfully seaward. Quest smiled.

"When Laura's set on a thing," he remarked, "she takes a little moving.

What do you think about it, Professor?"

The Professor laid down his book, keeping his finger in the place. He had the air of a man perfectly content with himself and his surroundings.

"My friend," he said, "I boarded this steamer with only one thought in my mind--Craig. At the present moment, I feel myself compelled to plead guilty to a complete change of outlook. The horrors of the last few months seem to have pa.s.sed from my brain like a dream. I lie here, I watch these white-winged birds wheeling around us, I watch the suns.h.i.+ne make jewels of the spray, I breathe this wonderful air, I relax my body to the slow, soothing movements of the boat, and I feel a new life stealing through me.

Is Craig really on board? Was it really he whom Miss Laura here saw? At the present moment, I really do not care. I learn from the steward, who arranged my bath this morning, that we are bound for India. I am very glad to hear it. It is some time since I saw Bombay, and the thought of these long days of complete peace fills me with a most indescribable satisfaction."

Quest grunted a little as he knocked the ash from his cigar.

"Not much of the bloodhound about the Professor," he remarked. "What about you, Lenora?"

She smiled at him.

"I agree entirely with the Professor," she murmured, "except that I am not quite so sure that I appreciate the rhythmical movement of the boat as he seems to. For the rest, I have just that feeling that I would like to go on and on and forget all the horrible things that have happened, to live in a sort of dream, and wake up in a world from which Craig had vanished altogether."

"Enervating effect this voyage seems to be having upon you all," Quest grumbled. "Even Harris there looks far too well contented with life."

The detective smiled. He was young and fresh-coloured, with a shrewd but pleasant face. He glanced involuntarily at Laura as he spoke.

"Well, Mr. Quest," he said, "I didn't bring you on the steamer so I don't feel any responsibility about it, but I must confess that I am enjoying the trip. I haven't had a holiday this year."

Quest struggled to his feet and threw back the rug in his chair.

"If you all persist in turning this into a pleasure cruise," he remarked, "I suppose I'll have to alter my own point of view. Come on, Harris, you and I promised to report to the Captain this morning. I don't suppose he'll be any too pleased with us. Let's get through with it."

The two men walked down the deck together. They found the Captain alone in his room, with a chart spread out in front of him and a pair of compa.s.ses in his hand. He turned round and greeted them.

"Well?"

"No luck, sir," Quest announced. "Your steward has given us every a.s.sistance possible and we have searched the s.h.i.+p thoroughly. Unless he has found a hiding place unknown to your steward, and not apparent to us, the man is not on board."

The Captain frowned slightly.

"You are not suggesting that that is possible, I suppose?"

Quest did not at once reply. He was thinking of Laura's obstinacy.

"Personally," he admitted, "I should not have believed it possible. The young lady of our party, however, who declares that she saw Craig board the steamer, is quite immovable."

The Captain rose to his feet. He was a man of medium height, strongly built, with short brown beard and keen blue eyes.

"This matter must be cleared up entirely," he declared brusquely. "If you will excuse me for a moment, I will talk to the young lady myself."

He walked firmly down the deck to where the two girls were seated, and paused in front of Laura.

"So you're the young lady," he remarked, touching his cap, "who thinks that I come to sea with criminals stowed away on my s.h.i.+p?"

"I don't know what your habits are, Captain," Laura replied, "but this particular criminal boarded your s.h.i.+p all right in Southampton Harbour."

"Anything wrong with your eyesight?" the Captain enquired blandly.

"No," Laura a.s.sured him. "I saw the man, saw him just as plainly as I see you now."

"Do you know," the Captain persisted, "that Mr. Quest and Mr. Harris have searched every nook and corner of the s.h.i.+p? They have had an absolutely free hand, and my own steward has been their guide. They have seen every man, boy, woman and animal amongst my crew or pa.s.sengers."

"They've been fooled somehow," Laura muttered.

The Captain frowned. He was on the point of a sharp rejoinder when he met Laura's eyes. She was smiling very faintly and there was something in her expression which changed his whole point of view.

"I'll go and make a few enquiries myself," he declared. "See you at dinner-time, I hope, young ladies."

"If you keep her as steady as this," Laura promised, "there are hopes."

He disappeared along the deck, and presently re-entered his room, where Harris and Quest were waiting for him. He was followed by his steward, an under-sized man with pallid complexion and nervous manner. He closed the door behind him.

"Brown," he said, turning to the steward, "I understand you to say that you have taken these gentlemen into every corner of the s.h.i.+p, that you have ransacked every possible hiding-place, that you have given them every possible opportunity of searching for themselves?"

"That is quite true, sir," the man acknowledged.

"You agree with me that it is impossible for any one to remain hidden in this s.h.i.+p?"

"Absolutely, sir."

"You hear, gentlemen?" the Captain continued. "I really can do no more. It is perfectly clear to me that the man you are seeking is not on my s.h.i.+p.

Your very charming young lady friend seems to think it impossible that she could have been mistaken, but as a matter of fact she was. If I might take the liberty, Mr. Quest, I would suggest that you ask her, at any rate, to keep her suspicions to herself."

"I'll see she doesn't talk," Quest promised. "Very sorry to have given you all this trouble, I'm sure."