“That’s the why and wherefore of it, sir.  Well, in course, ’twas no kiss-an’-be-friends arter that; so, bein’ in a mounseer’s place, Mr. Toley took French leave, which I did the same, and here we are a-lookin’ for a job.

“But Lor’ bless me! what’s happened to you, Mr. Burke?  When you didn’t come aboard at that there Gheria, Captain Barker he says, ’Log that there knave Burke a deserter,’ says he.  But I says to Mr. Toley, ’I may be wrong, sir,’ says I, ‘but I lay my whiskers that Diggle has been an’ sold him to the Pirate, an’ that’s the last we shall ever see of as nice a young fellow as ever hauled on a hawser.’  How did you get out of the Pirate’s den, sir?”

“That’s a long story, Bulger.  I’ll tell you all in good time.  You’re looking for a job, are you?  Well, I happen to know of a skipper here—­a good man:  maybe he’ll have a berth for a seasoned salt like you.  I’ll present you to him, and I know he’ll do what he can for you.”

Before he left the men, Desmond took Mr. Toley aside.

“Mr. Toley,” he said, “my friend Mr. Merriman wants a mate for one of his vessels, as I happen to know.  You would be willing to sign on?”

“I would, sir.  I’m a man of few words.”

“Very well; come up to Mr. Merriman’s house by the Rope Walk and we’ll see what he says.”

That same day Mr. Merriman invited the American to dinner, and engaged him, to Desmond’s surprise, as first mate for the Hormuzzeer, with Bulger as bo’sun.

“Don’t look so blue,” he said to Desmond when Mr. Toley had gone.  “He will, of course, take your place.  The fact is, I’ve taken a fancy to you, and I think you can do better than by serving as mate on a coasting vessel.  Look in at the daftarkhanah sometimes, and get Surendra Nath to explain something of our business methods.”

He said no more at that time, and Desmond felt no little curiosity about his host’s intentions.

One evening Desmond was sitting alone on the veranda, reading, awaiting Mr. Merriman’s return from a meeting of the Council to which he had been hastily summoned.  Hearing a footstep, he looked up, and was surprised to see, instead of Mr. Merriman, as he expected, Bulger hastening up with an air of excitement.

“Mr. Burke, sir, what d’you think I’ve seed?  I could hardly believe my own eyes.  I was walkin’ down towards the fort when I seed two men goin’ into a big house.  They was Englishmen, leastways white men, and I may be wrong, but I bet my boots one on ’em was that there soft-speakin’ villain Diggle.”

“Diggle!” exclaimed Desmond, springing up.  “You must be mistaken, Bulger.”

“I may be wrong, sir, but I never remembers any time when I was.”

“What house did he go into?”

“That I can’t tell you, sir, not bein’ sure o’ my bearin’s.”

“But you could point it out?”

“’Course I could.  Rather.  Just so.”

“Then I’ll came along with you, and you can show me.  If it is Diggle, we must have him arrested.”