“You needn’t worry, John,” he said; “it’s all over⁠—it’s⁠—it’s found .⁠ ⁠… Come down the steps.”

John came down and squatted at the foot of the steps, saying nothing. Stephen tied up the boat, but did not get out of it.

“A man’s been here this morning⁠—a policeman⁠—with the sack⁠ ⁠… he wanted to know if we knew anything about it.⁠ ⁠… Cook saw him first, and let out that it was ours⁠—said we’d lent it to you⁠—silly fool⁠ ⁠… about three weeks back⁠ ⁠… when I saw him it was too late to say anything else.⁠ ⁠…” He stopped and looked up. Surely John was going to say something.

John looked steadily at him and said nothing.

“She said Mabel went round and asked you for it, and you said⁠—what did you say, John?”