“It’s just as I thought, Herman,” he said genially.  “The fellow is a mere adventurer.  There will be no one to take his disappearance seriously.  Look at this document.”

He held out a half-printed, half-written sheet which I instantly recognized as my discharge, but the big man only nodded, his hands in his pockets.

“I not read English—­you know dot,” he said placidly.

“True, I had forgotten.  This is the fellow’s army discharge; only issued six or seven weeks ago at Manila.  He was serving in the ranks over there.  Got back to this country broke, most likely, and fell into the hands of those schemers up North, willing enough to do anything for a bunch of coin.  The poor devil probably has n’t got a friend on earth.”

“But someone know he come here.”

“Only the two who sent him, and they ’ll never dare tell, and the woman.  She is safe enough.  Nigger Pete drove them out here, and we can close his mouth easily enough.  It’s been easy, Herman, and now with these two settled it leaves me a clear field.”

“Maybe so—­yes.  But vat you think it all mean?  I would know how eet vas dey come.”

The younger man shuffled the papers restlessly, his eyes on the face of the other.

“I confess there are some details missing, Herman,” he said slowly, “but in the main it is clear enough.  I take it this man Neale is a damned rascal.  He went North to find the heir, discovered that he was either dead, or had disappeared, ran into some scamp of the same kidney as himself, and, between them, determined to cop the coin.  That’s my guess.  Then they picked up this penniless soldier, who, by the way, resembles the missing son a bit, and sent him down here to play the part.  Wrote him out full instructions,” tapping the papers suggestively, “and then sat down there to wait results.”

“Vel, maybe so—­but vat about the girl, hey?”

“Someone they picked off the streets.  He ’s told to do it in this letter.  They thought it best to prove their man married, and so had to procure a woman.  We won’t have any trouble with her.”

“Vat you do to be sure?”

“Turn her loose in New Orleans with a few dollars,” carelessly.  “All she knows about the affair can’t hurt us if she does squeal.  There are plenty of ways to shut her mouth.  I ’ll know better how to handle her case right when I see her.  Broussard is a long time at his job.”

“Perhaps she fight heem—­hey?”

“The worse for her—­that Creole is a wild-cat.  But I wish he would hurry, so we can get through the Gut on the flood tide; that boat draws more water than is comfortable in this lagoon.”

“You need not worry,” said the German, placidly looking at his watch.  “I take eet through safe.  She dam good sea boat, an’ where I come in I can go out.  Ach! ’tis the fellow come now.”

The newcomer passed so close beside me I could feel his foot touch mine.  As he hurried forward I realized the eyes of the two men would be upon him, and that any movement of mine would be unobserved.  The door remained ajar, and, if escape was possible, now was the time.  With head reeling dizzily, I crept through the opening, yet held the latch, fascinated by the first spoken words within.