at presently! You and your friends
came with him to Zanzibar, where you made certain inquiries--sufficient
to set the Sultan of Zanzibar by the ears. You left Zanzibar for
Mombasa, and for some reason that you shall also tell me presently,
Lord Montdidier did not leave the ship at Mombasa but continued the
voyage toward London. Certain individuals decided that it would be
better not to permit Lord Montdidier to reach Europe alive. There were
agents charged with the duty of attending to that. It was considered
safest to throw him overboard into the Mediterranean; men were ordered
by cable to board the ship at Suez. Yet when the ship reached Suez
nobody knew anything about him! Tell me where he left the ship, and
why!"

He glared with eyes accustomed to extorting facts from savages,
depending on physical weakness so to undermine my will that I would
give my secret away, perhaps without knowing it.

I lowered my eyes, not being minded to match the strength of my
eye-muscles against his. The news that Monty had not reached Suez as a
matter of fact made me feel physically sick. If it were true, it meant
most likely that he had been the victim of foul play, for that steamer
was not scheduled to stop anywhere before reaching the Suez Canal. As
for the people on the ship knowing nothing about him they no doubt
preferred not to talk to strangers. That sort of news is easily kept
under cover for a while. Schillingschen grew angry at my silence, and
changed his tactics.

"Where did he leave the ship?" he shouted--suddenly--savagely.

I did not answer. He came round to my side of the grave, and laid a
heavy clenched fist on my shoulder. It seemed to weigh like lead in
the weak condition I was in.

"You shall tell me what Lord Montdidier is doing now, or that grave
shall resemble in your imagination a bed of roses!"

He seized my neck in a grasp like iron, and squeezed it. I rose
suddenly and struck him in the stomach with my elbow. Strength had
returned more swiftly than I had guessed, or perhaps it was indignation
at the touch of his fingers. At any rate he staggered clear of me, and
I thought he would assault me now in real earnest; but perhaps he
suspected me of having weapons concealed somewhere. Instead of rushing
at me like an angry bull he calmed himself and laughed.

"You are strong for a man they thought of burying!"' he said. "Never
mind! You shall see reason presently! It is well understood t