He had just come from below, and had paused
opposite a man who had been standing a little apart from the
others, one of the few who was wearing an overcoat, as though he
felt the cold. In the background were the two servants who had
guarded the gangway.
"Mr. Manuel Loito," Sir Timothy said--"or shall I say Mr.
Shopland?--my invited guests are welcome. I have only one method
of dealing with uninvited ones."
The two men suddenly stepped forward. Shopland made no protest,
attempted no struggle. They lifted him off his feet as though he
were a baby, and a moment later there was a splash in the water.
They threw a life-belt after him.
"Always humane, you see," Sir Timothy remarked, as he leaned over
the side. "Ah! I see that even in his overcoat our friend is
swimmer enough to reach the bank. You find our methods harsh,
Ledsam?" he asked, turning a challenging gaze towards the latter.
Francis, who had been watching Shopland come to the surface,
shrugged his shoulders. He delayed answering for a moment while
he watched the detective, disdaining the life-belt, swim to the
opposite shore.
"I suppose that under the circumstances," Francis said, "he was
prepared to take his risk."
"You should know best about that," Sir Timothy rejoined. "I
wonder whether you would mind looking after Lady Cynthia? I
shall be busy for a few moments.
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