However, it comes to this, that we
have narrowed the field down to three incidents that want a bit of
explanation. Everything else points as much one way as the other."
"Which way?"
"To your being mistaken for a spy yourself."
A horried thought struck me. It was so horrid that it took a little pluck
to get it out.
"In that case, supposing some patriotic individual had tried first to
stab and then to shoot me, for his country's sake?"
"By Jove!" exclaimed my cousin and gazed thoughtfully into space for a
bit. Then he said, "That's possible, but it's a tall order too; and it
leaves out the man on the shore."
I was visited by another horrid thought.
"He might have been spy hunting!"
"Well, in that case we can easily get on to his tracks. There will be no
point in his denying it. But would the conversation fit that theory?"
I thought for a moment and then said with heart-felt relief,
"No, it couldn't possibly."
My cousin fell silent and stared into the thickening dusk. Then he looked
round with a start and said,
"We're nearly in."
We both went out on deck and saw at the head of the bay before us houses
and lights on shore and a church tower against the evening sky.
"Well, Roger," said he, "I'll go into this business very carefully and
make the most thorough enquiry.
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