Mr.Hamilton Fynes made his way quietly to the lower deck, which was almost deserted.

In a very few minutes he was joined by half a dozen sailors, dragging a rope ladder.

The little tug came screaming around, and before any of the passengers on the deck above had any idea of what was happening, Mr.Hamilton Fynes was on board the Anna Maria, and on his way down the river, seated in a small, uncomfortable cabin, lit by a single oil lamp.
No one spoke more than a casual word to him from the moment he stepped to the deck until the short journey was at an end.

He was shown at once into the cabin, the door of which he closed without a moment's delay.

A very brief examination of the interior convinced him that he was indeed alone.