Aguilar pushed off with an oar, and he continued to use the oar as a punt-pole, so that no sound of their movement should reach the bank.  Water was pouring into the old sieve, and they touched ground once.  But Aguilar knew precisely what he was about and got her off again.  They approached the yacht with the slow, sure inexorability of Aguilar’s character.  A beam from the portholes of the saloon caught Aguilar’s erect figure.  He sat down, poling as well as he could from the new position.  When they were a little nearer he stopped dead, holding the punt firm by means of the pole fixed in the mud.

“He’s there afore us!” he murmured, pointing.

Under the Maltese cross of electric lights at the inner end of the gangway could clearly be seen the form of Mr. Hurley, engaged in conversation with Mr. Gilman.  Mr. Hurley was fairly on board.

CHAPTER XXXVIII

IN THE UNIVERSE

When Audrey, having been put ashore in execution of a plan arranged with those naturally endowed strategists, Aguilar and Jane Foley, arrived at the Hard by way of the sea-wall, Mr. Hurley was still in parley with Mr. Gilman under the Maltese cross of electric lights.  From the distance Mr. Gilman had an air of being somewhat intimidated by the Irishman, but as soon as he distinguished the figure of Audrey at the shore end of the gangway his muscles became mysteriously taut, and his voice charged with defiance.

“I have already told you, sir,” Audrey heard him say, “there is no such person aboard the yacht.  And I most certainly will not allow you to search.  You have no right whatever to search, and you know it.  You have my word.  My name is Gilman.  You may have heard of me.  I’m chairman of the Board of Foodstuffs, Limited.  Gilman, sir.  And I shall feel obliged if you will leave my decks.”

“Are you sailing to-night?” asked Mr. Hurley placidly.

“What the devil has that got to do with you, sir?” replied Mr. Gilman gloriously.

Audrey, standing behind the detective and unseen by him, observed the gloriousness of Mr. Gilman’s demeanour and also Mr. Gilman’s desire that she should note the same and appreciate it.  She nodded violently several times to Mr. Gilman, to urge him to answer the detective in the affirmative.

“Ye-es, sir.  Since you are so confoundedly inquisitive, I am sailing to-night.  I shall sail as soon as the tide serves,” said Mr. Gilman hurriedly and fiercely, and then glanced again at Audrey for further approval.

“Where for?” Mr. Hurley demanded.

“Where I please, sir,” Mr. Gilman snorted.  By this time he evidently imagined that he was furious, and was taking pleasure in his fury.

Mr. Hurley, having given a little ironic bow, turned to leave and found himself fronting Audrey, who stiffly ignored his salute.  The detective gone, Mr. Gilman walked to and fro, breathing more loudly than ever, and unsuccessfully pretending to a scattered audience, which consisted of the skipper, Mr. Price, Dr. Cromarty, and sundry deck-hands, that he had done nothing in particular and was not a hero.  As Audrey approached him he seemed to lay all his glory with humble pride at her feet.