Ethan listened for a moment, then shook his head.
“No,” said he. “But oddly enough I imagine that I recognize familiar voices among them. There, do you hear that one rather lighter than the rest? It sounds to me something like the voice of a boy whom I knew in Philadelphia. His name was Wheelock, and his family were Tories.”
John Paul Jones appeared to be greatly interested.
“I had fancied the same thing myself,” admitted he. “There is one voice among them that I’ve thought sounded strangely like--whom do you think?”
Ethan leaned over and grasped his arm tightly.
“Yes, Blake,” he answered. “Then you too, have thought the same! It must be he.”
“I’ll see in a moment,” and the boy started to his feet.
“Sit down,” said John Paul Jones. “Before we betray our presence here let us consider what it might mean.”
“You are right, sir.” Ethan took his seat once more, and waited for the other to go on.
“I think we spoke of a directing mind that Siki would probably meet in France--the plotter that commanded him to enlist on the Ranger and endeavor to steal the secret dispatch.”
“I think that the Lascar and his master have met, and that they have not yet given up hope of succeeding.”
Just then a voice from the supper room spoke out sharp and full.
“Siki did well, Blake. And if you had given him any aid my plans would have carried.”
“You see,” whispered John Paul Jones, “I am right. Siki is there, and that was the voice of the master.”
Blake was heard to grumble out some reply; but the other man silenced him instantly.
“That will do,” said he. “Excuses will not answer at this stage of the proceedings. To put yourself back in my good graces you must do more than invent reasons why you failed in your part of the plan. Rather than remain and guard the way against the surprise which came, you went ashore, and so ruined all.”
“Oh, very well,” grumbled Blake, “put it all on me, if you will.”
“You are the one to bear the blame, and bear it you shall. Unless you do something that will lead to our securing this secret paper, you shall not receive a shilling of that which I promised you.”
“And good faith is good faith,” said the other man.
“You are right, Danvers,” said a boy’s voice.
“You keep still, you pup,” growled Blake. “I don’t see what good you are in this, anyway.”