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Rh Lord Stranleigh sat there, on the edge of the operator's bunk, until the whole message was repeated back to him, then he arose, stretched his arms above his head, and yawned.

"I think," he said, "I'll go back and enjoy a little more sleep."

"Why don't you rouse up the Honourable John Hazel, and ask him to put into the nearest port? You see, our apparatus may break down at any moment, or we may find ourselves cut off from London. With so much at stake, I think you ought to return."

Stranleigh's smile was enigmatical.

"You are a simple-minded man. Professor, and yet you lay on the sofa and heard the Honourable John assure Isador Isaacstein that he would do anything in his power to rope me into this very company."

"Good heavens, you don't suspect that John Hazel has kidnapped you?"

"No, I don't suspect that."

"I'm glad to hear you say so."

"Marlow, I don't suspect; I know."

"Then what are you going to do?"

"Absolutely nothing. An active person like yourself, Professor, is prone to under-estimate the power of inertia."

"Won't you tell him what you know?"

"And spoil our nice voyage to Cadiz? Never."