"Pi----" began the other, and then, stopping short on the first syllable, hastily adjusted a pair of pinc-nez on his nose and regarded the Captain through them. "Piracy, did you say?" he went on.
"Yes, that's my latest crime. Last time we met it was forgery."
"Tut, tut," said the lawyer in a peevish tone, "you mustn't put it like that. But, my dear John, piracy! Surely you are joking?"
"Ask that gentleman," answered Calamity, indicating the Lieutenant, who had moved a little distance away.
"Yes, I have a pretty good defence, I fancy."
"You will, of course, place it in my hands?"
"Since you've arrived at such an opportune moment, Vayne, it would be an insult to the gods not to do so."
"Good," answered the lawyer. "But that reminds me. You haven't asked why I'm here. It's some distance from Chancery Lane, eh?"
"Oh, I know why you're here," replied Calamity, "and for that reason we can discuss your errand later on. This piracy charge is a more pressing matter, and the sooner I place you in possession of the facts, the better. I will ask the Lieutenant if he can let us have half an hour alone together before I'm taken ashore."
The officer readily consented, and Calamity, accompanied by the lawyer, went to his cabin. There they remained in close conference until a seaman knocked at the door and informed the Captain that the Lieutenant was waiting for him. Then, under an escort of bluejackets, Captain Calamity was taken ashore.
A couple of hours later Calamity, with the Lieutenant and Mr. Vayne--the latter having been permitted to accompany them in his character of solicitor to the accused--was ushered into a spacious room where several men sat round a large table, at the head of which was a bronzed, hard-featured man in naval uniform, evidently the president.
"You are John Brighouse, otherwise known as Captain Calamity, I believe?" said the latter, addressing the prisoner.
"Briefly, the charge against you is that you did wilfully and feloniously seize in this harbour a steamer called the _Arrow_, belonging to Jacob Rossenbaum of Johore, and did detain and use the same with criminal intent. Are you guilty or not guilty?"
Mr. Rossenbaum having been called upon to give evidence, stated that, having contracted with Isaac Solomon of Singapore for the repair of his, witness's ship, the _Arrow_, the latter was sent round to Mr. Solomon's shipyard. Witness had every reason to believe that the repairs were carried out, for he received a wire from Mr. Solomon telling him to send a crew to take over the _Arrow_, which had then left the yard and was lying in Singapore harbour. He had duly despatched a crew, but, on the following morning, received another wire from Mr. Solomon asking him to come to Singapore at once. On arrival, he learnt that his vessel had been boarded and taken out of the harbour under her own steam by a person known as Captain Calamity.