human
No, Lestrange, he said, with decision,
gpt
We shall see about that,
human
Of course. We are going to see about it now. You will be brought to your bearings, sir. Joe, you say that this man is Jean Lestrange?
gpt
Yes, sir. But may I ask, Mr. Thorold, how you know about the shark?
human
I have heard the story from his own lips, Joe. He claimed to be Achille Lestrange and Miss Sophy's father.
gpt
Did he, now, the swab! and you know, sir, how Mrs. Lestrange ran away to Mr. Beauchamp from the way her husband treated her?
human
I know----
gpt
Achille treated Zelia well, interrupted the Captain;
human
That's another lie! retorted Joe.
gpt
He was fond-like of her the first year they were married, but it was you, Captain Jean, who made a mess of them. You made him jealous of Mr. Beauchamp, and he treated her crool. No wonder she ran away, poor lass!
human
Did the way Achille treated Zelia give Beauchamp any right to murder him?
gpt
He didn't murder him. You know he didn't.
human
He did, I say. Achille was found stabbed to the heart on the veranda of Beauchamp's house. Zelia was dead, and your master took the child away to his yacht at Falmouth. You were on board.
gpt
Yes, said Joe coolly,
human
I wos; and it wos well for you, Captain Jean, that I wasn't near the house that same evening. I'd ha' wrung your neck, I would! Anyhow, master didn't kill Munseer Achille.
gpt
There was a warrant out for his arrest, however.
human
I know that, Captain Jean, and it was you who got it out. And I know as you came over here after master from seeing his picter in the papers. We both knowed you were coming, Captain Jean.
gpt
Was that the West Indian letter, Joe?
human
Yes, sir, it was. Master got a letter from a friend of his in Jamaica telling him this swab was after him to say as he'd murdered Munseer Achille, which, added Joe, deliberately eyeing Lestrange,
gpt
Then who killed Achille?
human
I dunno rightly, replied Mr. Brill stolidly.
gpt
I wasn't in the house that night, or I'd ha' found out. But master ran away, because he knew you'd accuse him out of spite. But Mr. Barkham, of Falmouth, believed master was innocent, and know'd where he was, and what was his new name. 'Twas he wrote the letter saying as Captain Jean was on his way to England to make trouble.
human
Barkham! muttered Lestrange.
gpt
Ah! he was always my enemy.
human
A shark like you, Captain Jean, ain't got no friends,
gpt
Do you think that Barkham's letter caused Mr. Marlow's death?
human
Do I think it, sir? Why, I knows it! After twenty years of hearing nothing, the shock, as you might say, killed my master.
gpt
Then he was guilty, and my accusation was a righteous one to make, chimed in Lestrange.
human
A clean conscience fears nothing.
gpt
Mr. Beauchamp's conscience was a darned sight cleaner nor yourn, Captain Jean, but you had the whip-hand of him, as all those in Jamaica thought he'd murdered Munseer Achille, from them quarreling about him coming after his wife. But master didn't do it--I swear he didn't! More like you did it yourself, added Joe, with a look of contempt,
human
I think you must see that you have failed all round, he said quietly.
gpt
Your plot to pass as Miss Marlow's father is of no use now. The accusation against me is not worth considering, as I have shown. If necessary, I can defend myself. On the whole, Captain Lestrange, you had better go back to Jamaica.
human
Not without my price,
gpt
Ah, blackmail! Well, I always thought that was at the bottom of it all. A man with clean hands and honorable intentions would not have joined hands with a confessed rogue like Cicero Gramp. But may I ask on what grounds you demand money?
human
I can prove that Beauchamp killed my cousin.
gpt
What good will that do? Beauchamp is dead, and beyond your malice.
human
Ay, that he is, said Joe approvingly.
gpt
He's gone where you won't get him. I reckon you'll go the other way when your time comes, you blasted swab!
human
I'll not go without my money, he raged,
gpt
If you annoy Miss Marlow again, I'll have you arrested, said Alan sharply.
human
We don't permit this sort of thing in England.
gpt
I shall put the story of Beauchamp's wickedness in all the papers.
human
As you please. It cannot harm the dead.
gpt
And will that girl stand by and see her father's memory disgraced?
human
You seem to forget, said Thorold, with quiet irony,
gpt
And I'll deal with him myself, said Joe.
human
I'll make them eyes of yours blacker than they are by nature.
gpt
Leave him alone, Joe. He'll go now.
human
I won't go! cried the man.
gpt
I'll have my price.
human
I shall have to give you that thrashing, after all.
gpt
Let me do it, sir,