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listened intently； some of her rigidity had gone。 When Lady Agatha had
finished Miss Pringle said：
〃I suppose that you can prove that you are really Lady Agatha
Fairhaven？〃
For answer Lady Agatha went to one of her trunks and opened it。
She drew therefrom a letter； and passed it over without a word。
As Miss Pringle read it； her face lighted up。 She did not lose her
primness； but her suspicion seemed altogether to depart。
〃A letter from Emmeline Pankhurst！〃 she said； in a hushed voice；
handling the missive as if it were a sacred relic。 〃Can you ever forgive
me？〃
〃There is nothing to forgive；〃 beamed Lady Agatha。 〃I am willing to
admit； now that you understand me； that the thing looked a bit suspicious；
on the face of it。〃
〃You have suffered for the cause；〃 said Miss Pringle。 〃I have
suffered for it； too！〃 And； with a certain shyness； she patted Lady Agatha
on the arm。 But the next moment she said：
〃But what IS in the box you brought here then； Lady Agatha？ Two
boxes were shipped to Newark； addressed to me。 Which one did you get？
What is really in the one you have been carrying around？ My plum
preserves； or〃
She shuddered and left the sentence unfinished。
〃Let us open it；〃 said Cleggett。
〃No！ No！〃 cried Lady Agatha。 〃Clement； no！ I could not bear to have
it opened。〃
Miss Pringle rose。 It was evident that a bit of her earlier suspicion
had returned。
〃After all；〃 said Miss Pringle； indicating the letter again； 〃how do I
know that〃
〃That it is not a forgery？〃 said Lady Agatha。 〃I see。〃 She mused a
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
moment； and then said； with a sigh； 〃Well； then； let us open the box！〃
〃I think it best； Agatha；〃 said Cleggett。 〃I shall have it brought
down。〃
But even as he turned upon his heel to go on deck and give the order；
Dr。 Farnsworth and the Rev。 Simeon Calthrop ran excitedly down the
cabin companionway。
〃The box of Reginald Maltravers；〃 cried the Doctor； who was in
Cleggett's confidence； 〃is gone！〃
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
CHAPTER XIX
TWO GREAT MEN MEET
〃Gone！〃 Lady Agatha； who had emerged from her stateroom； turned
pale and caught at her heart。
They rushed on deck。 The young Doctor was right； the box； which
had stood on the larboard side of the cabin； had disappeared。
〃It might have been blown into the canal during the storm；〃 suggested
the Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop。 All of the crew of the Jasper B。 knew Lady
Agatha's story； and were aware of the importance of the box。
〃It was on the lee side of the cabin；〃 objected Dr。 Farnsworth； 〃and
while it might have been blown flat to the deck； in spite of its protected
position； it would scarcely have been picked up by the wind again and
wafted over the port bulwarks。〃
〃If you was to ask me；〃 said Cap'n Abernethy； who had joined in the
discussion； 〃I'd give it as MY opinion it's a good riddance of bad rubbish。〃
〃Rubbish？〃 said Miss Pringle。 〃Rubbish； indeed！ I am confident
that that box contained my plum preserves！〃
〃It has been stolen！〃 cried Cleggett； with conviction。 〃Fool that I was；
not to have taken it into the cabin！〃
〃But； if you had； you know；〃 said Lady Agatha； 〃one would scarcely
have cared to stay in there with it。〃
〃Loge has outgeneraled me；〃 murmured Cleggett； well…nigh frantic
with self…reproach。 〃While he made the attack in front； he sent some of
his men to the rear of the vessel and it was quietly made off with while we
were fighting。〃 Had the disappearance of the box concerned himself
alone Cleggett's sense of disaster might have been less poignant。 But the
thought that his own carelessness had enabled the enemy to get possession
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
of a thing likely to involve Lady Agatha in further trouble was nearly
insupportable。 He gritted his teeth and clenched his hands in impotent
rage。
〃No doubt Loge caught sight of it during the early part of the skirmish；
by a flash of lightning；〃 said Dr。 Farnsworth； 〃and acted as you suggest；
Mr。 Cleggett。 But does he believe it to be the box which contains the
evidence against him？ Or can he； by any chance； be aware of its real
contents？〃
〃No matter which；〃 groaned Cleggett； 〃no matter which！ For when
he opens it； he will learn what is in it。 Don't you see that he has us now？
If he offers to trade it back to us for the other oblong box； how can I refuse？
If we have his secret； Loge has ours！〃
But Dr。 Farnsworth was not listening。 He had suddenly leaned over
the port rail and was staring down the canal。 The others followed his
gaze。
The house boat Annabel Lee； they perceived； had got under weigh； and
was slowly approaching the Jasper B。 in the moonlight。 They watched
her gradual approach in silence。 She stopped within a few yards of the
Jasper B。； and a voice which Cleggett recognized as that of Wilton
Barnstable； the great detective； sang out：
〃Jasper B。； ahoy！〃
〃Aye； aye！〃 shouted Cleggett。
〃Is Mr。 Cleggett on board？〃
〃He is speaking。〃
〃Mr。 Cleggett； have you lost anything from your canal boat？〃
Cleggett did not answer； and for a moment he did not move。 Then；
tightening his sword belt； and cocking his hat a trifle； he climbed over the
starboard rail and walked along the bank of the canal a few yards until he
was opposite the Annabel Lee。 The great detective； on his part； also
stepped ashore。 They stood and faced each other in the moonlight； silently；
and their followers； also in silence； gathered in the bows of the respective
vessels and watched them。
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THE CR