“ You say you have made a study of that English ship’s movements. Well, for instance, suppose a breeze springs up, as it very likely will towards the evening, could you tell me where she will be to-night? I mean, what her captain is likely to do.”
“ No, I couldn’t,” said Peyrol.
“ But you said you have been observing him minutely for weeks. There aren’t so many alternatives, and taking the weather and everything into consideration, you can judge almost with certainty.”
“ No,” said Peyrol again. “It so happens that I can’t.”
“ Can’t you? Then you are worse than any of the old admirals that you think so little of. Why can’t you?”
“ I will tell you why,” said Peyrol after a pause and with a face more like a carving than ever. “It’s because the fellow has never come so far thi
