"Met the professor's late boatman on the Cob," said Mr. Chase,dissecting a chocolate cake.

　　"Clumsy man," said Phyllis. "I hope he was ashamed of himself. I shallnever forgive him for trying to drown papa."My heart bled for Mr. Henry Hawk, that modern martyr.

　　"When I met him," said Tom Chase, "he looked as if he had been tryingto drown his sorrow as well.""I knew he drank," said Phyllis severely, "the very first time I sawhim.""You might have warned the professor," murmured Mr. Chase.

　　"He couldn't have upset the boat if he had been sober.""You never know. He may have done it on purpose.""Tom, how absurd.""Rather rough on the man, aren't you?" I said.

　　"Merely a suggestion," continued Mr. Chase airily. "I've been readingsensational novels lately, and it seems to me that Mr. Hawk's cut outto be a minion. Probably some secret foe of the professor's bribedhim."My heart stood still. Did he know, I wondered, and was this all aroundabout way of telling me he knew?

　　"The professor may be a member of an Anarchist League, or something,and this is his punishment for refusing to assassinate somesportsman.""Have another cup of tea, Tom, and stop talking nonsense."Mr. Chase handed in his cup.

　　"What gave me the idea that the upset was done on purpose was this. Isaw the whole thing from the Ware Cliff. The spill looked to me justlike dozens I had seen at Malta.""Why do they upset themselves on purpose at Malta particularly?"inquired Phyllis.

　　"Listen carefully, my dear, and you'll know more about the ways of theNavy that guards your coasts than you did before. When men are allowedon shore at Malta, the owner has a fancy to see them snugly on boardagain at a certain reasonable hour. After that hour any Maltesepoliceman who brings them aboard gets one sovereign, cash. But he hasto do all the bringing part of it on his own. Consequence is, you seeboats rowing out to the ship, carrying men who have overstayed theirleave; and when they get near enough, the able-bodied gentleman incustody jumps to his feet, upsets the boat, and swims for the gangway.

　　The policemen, if they aren't drowned--they sometimes are--race him,and whichever gets there first wins. If it's the policeman, he getshis sovereign. If it's the sailor, he is considered to have arrivednot in a state of custody and gets off easier. What a judicious remarkthat was of the governor of North Carolina to the governor of SouthCarolina, respecting the length of time between drinks. Just one morecup, please, Phyllis.""But how does all that apply?" I asked, dry-mouthed.

　　"Mr. Hawk upset the professor just as those Maltese were upset.

　　There's a patent way of doing it. Furthermore, by judiciousquestioning, I found that Hawk was once in the Navy, and stationed atMalta. /Now/, who's going to drag in Sherlock Holmes?""You don't really think--?" I said, feeling like a criminal in thedock when the case is going against him.