"You cannot go into the port of St.George's to see if she is there." "Why not ?" asked Mr.Gilfleur, speaking for the first time.

"I spent a winter there when I was sick from over-work and exposure; and I know all about the islands." "That will not help me, Mr.Gilfleur," said the captain, with a smile at what he considered the simplicity of the Frenchman.
"But why can you not go in and see if the Dornoch is there ?" inquired the detective.
"Because if I learned that she was about to leave the port, the authorities would not let me sail till twenty-four hours after she had gone." "You need not wait till she gets ready to leave," suggested the Frenchman.
"She might be ready to sail at the very time I arrived, and then I should lose her.

Oh, no; I prefer to take my chance at a marine league from the shore," added the captain, shaking his head.
"Perhaps I might go into Hamilton harbor and obtain the information you need," suggested Mr.Gilfleur, looking very earnest, as though he was thinking of something.
"You!" exclaimed Captain Chantor, looking at him with amazement.

"How could you go in without going in the ship ?" "You know that I have a boat on deck," replied the detective quietly.
"But you are not a sailor, sir." "No, I am not a sailor; but I am a boatman.

After I had worked up the biggest case in all my life in Paris,--one that required me to go to London seven times,--I was sick when the bank-robbers were convicted, and the excitement was over.