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… Page 133…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
Finally； Cleggett； with one hand on his hip； and standing with his feet
wide apart； said very incisively：
〃Sir； the Jasper B。 is NOT a canal boat。〃
〃Eh？〃 Wilton Barnstable started at the emphasis。 〃The
Jasper B。；〃 pursued Cleggett； staring steadily at Wilton Barnstable； 〃is a
schooner。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the other。 〃Indeed？〃
〃A schooner；〃 repeated Cleggett； 〃indeed； sir！ Indeed； sir； a schooner！〃
There was another silence； in which neither man would look aside；
they held each other with their eyes； the nervous strain communicated
itself to the crews of the two vessels。 At last； however； the detective；
although he did not lower his gaze； and although he strove to give his new
attitude an effect of ease and jauntiness by twisting the end of his
mustache as he spoke； said to Cleggett：
〃A schooner； then； Mr。 Cleggett； a schooner！ No offense； I hope？〃
〃None at all；〃 said Cleggett； heartily enough； now that the point had
been established。 And the tension relaxed on both ships。
〃You have lost an oblong box； Mr。 Cleggett。〃 The great detective
affirmed it rather than interrogated。
〃How did you know that？〃
The other laughed。 〃We know a great many thingsit is our business
to know things；〃 he said。 Then he dropped his voice to a whisper； and said
rapidly； 〃Mr。 Cleggett； do you know who I am？〃 Before Cleggett could
reply he continued； 〃Brace yourselfdo not make an outcry when I tell
you who I am。 I am Wilton Barnstable。〃
〃I knew you；〃 said Cleggett。 The other appeared disappointed for a
moment。 And then he inquired anxiously； 〃How did you know me？〃
〃Why； from your pictures in the magazines；〃 said Cleggett。
The detective brightened perceptibly。 〃Ah； yesthe magazines！ Yes；
yes； indeed！ publicity is unavoidable； unavoidable； Mr。 Cleggett！ But
this box； now〃
The great detective interrupted himself to laugh again； a trifle
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
complacently； Cleggett thought。
〃I will not mystify you； Mr。 Cleggett； about the box。 Mystification is
one of the tricks of the older schools of detection。 I never practice it； Mr。
Cleggett。 With me； the detection of crime is a businessyes； a business。
I will tell you presently how the box came into my possession。〃
〃It IS in your possession？〃 Cleggett felt a dull pang of the heart。 If
the box of Reginal Maltravers were in the hands of Logan Black he could
at least trade the other oblong box to Loge for it； and thus save Lady
Agatha。 But in the possession of Wilton Barnstable； the great detective
！ Cleggett pulled himself together； he thought rapidly； he recognized
that the situation called； above all things else； for diplomacy and
adroitness。 He went on； nonchalantly：
〃I suppose you are aware of the contents of the box？〃
The other laughed again as if Cleggett had made an excellent jest；
there was something urbane and benign in his manner； it appeared as if he
regarded the contents of the box of Reginald Maltravers as anything but
serious； his tone puzzled Cleggett。
〃Suppose I bring the box on board the Jasper B。；〃 suggested the great
detective。 〃It interests me； that box。 I have no doubt it has its story。
And perhaps； while you are telling me some things about it； I may be able
to give you some information in turn。〃
There was no mistaking the fact that the man； whether genuinely
friendly or no； wished to appear so。
〃Have it brought into my cabin；〃 said Cleggett； 〃and we will discuss
it。〃
A few minutes later Wilton Barnstable； Cleggett； Lady Agatha； Miss
Pringle； and two of Wilton Barnstable's men sat in the cabin of the Jasper
B。； with the two oblong boxes before themthe one which had contained
Loge's incriminating diary； and the one which had caused Lady Agatha so
much trouble。
In the light of the cabin the three detectives were revealed as
startlingly alike。 Barton Ward and Watson Bard； Barnstable's two
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
assistants； might； indeed； almost have been taken for Barnstable himself；
at a casual glance。 In height； in bulk； in dress； in facial expression； they
seemed Wilton Barnstable all over again。 But； looking intently at the
three men； Cleggett began to perceive a difference between the real Wilton
Barnstable and his two counterfeits。 It was the difference between the face
which is informed of genius； and the countenance which is indicative of
mere talent。
〃Mr。 Cleggett；〃 began Wilton Barnstable； 〃as I said before； I will make
no attempt to mystify you。 I was a witness to the attack upon your vessel。
Mr。 Ward； Mr。 Bard； and myself； in fact； had determined to assist you； had
we seen that the combat was going against you。 We lay； during the
struggle； in the lee of youryourer； schooner！in the lee of your
schooner； armed； and ready to bear a hand。 We have our own little matter
to settle with Logan Black。 Why Logan Black should desire possession
of this particular box； I am unable to state。 Nevertheless； at the moment
when he was leading his assault upon your starboard bow； two of his men；
who had made a detour to the stern of your vessel； had clambered
stealthily aboard； and were quietly pushing the box over the side into the
canal。 They let themselves down into the water； and swam towards the
mouth of the canal； pushing it ahead of them。 We followed in our
rowboat； Mr。 Ward； Mr。 Bard； and myself； at a discreet distance。 We let
them push the box as far south as the Annabel Lee。 And then〃
He paused a moment； and smiled reminiscently。 Barton Ward and
Watson Bard also smiled reminiscently； and the three detectives
exchanged crafty glances。
〃Then； to be brief； we took the box away from them。 They were so
ill…advised as to struggle。 They are in irons； now； on