To this day I don't know that there was anything in the sound, but 'tis fair to tell you all I can."-- Captain Bewes took a sip at his grog, and over the rim looked down the table towards Samuel, who nodded.
The Captain nodded back, set down his glass, and resumed.

"Quite so.
The next thing is that Mr.Orchard, returning to deck two minutes later and having to pass the door of Mr.Annesley's cabin on his way, ran against an old Hindu beggar crouching there, fingering the door-handle and about to enter--or so Orchard supposed, and kicked him up the companion.

He told me about it himself, next day, when we found the cabin empty and I began to make inquiries.

'Now here,' says you, 'here's a clue,' and I'm not denying but it may be one.
Only when you look into it, what does it amount to?
Mr.Annesley-- saving your presence--was known for a stern man: you may take it for certain he'd made enemies over there, and these Hindus are the devil (saving your presence again, ma'am) for nursing a grudge.

'Keep a stone in your pocket seven years: turn it, keep it for another seven; 'twill be ready at hand for your enemy'-- that's their way.