J. S. Fletcher

“ I ain’t going to have any truck with Krevin—after what I’ve learnt—and seen, especially seen. Business—such as I might have done—and expected to do—with him and Getch, is one thing, but murder and the like o’ that is another. I ain’t going to have no Krevin’s aboard my ship—now! What I’ve promised to do, young master, I will do!—and that’s to put you and the young lady ashore on the mainland, safe and sound. ”

“ If only we can get ashore on the mainland——”
The three men came towards us; our friend motioning us into the boat, and the others making ready to put off to the steamer.
“That’s all right!” the first man whispered to me as he followed us and took the tiller. “Good notion, that of yours, telling me about that little matter that lay in Getch’s pockets!—there’s a deal of persuasion in a bit of money, young master, and ’twas lucky for you that Getch left home with his pockets well lined. And don’t you or the young lady have any fear!—you’ll be well done to aboard my ship.” ”

“ I asked. “Personally?”
“Spoken to the man a time or two,” he replied. “Seen him—many a time. I see him get five years, one time, at Exeter Assizes. Many years since that—he’s been put away since then, more than once. But I do know that he was used by Krevin—for various jobs. And, as I say, I reckon that in this last affair, when he’d done his job, Krevin and Getch done him in—just as Krevin’s done in Getch. And, of course, Krevin’ll get done in himself—if that Hindu chap as you spoke of hasn’t done him in already! ”

“ I make it that Krevin, who was an ingenious man, mind you, engineered things to get hold o’ that Chinese gim-crack of the lady’s, knowing such things is worth—well, no end of money—and took Getch in with him, and between ’em they got Sol Cousins to do the actual stealing. ”

“ I said, disregarding all that. “We want to be driven to Middlebourne as soon as possible! You’ve got a horse and dog-cart, haven’t you? It’s important—we must see the police——”
He caught at my meaning instantly, and hurried into his kitchen, where I heard him giving orders to the potman. ”