"These bloomin' I-talians have got
the griffin about that treasure. And who gev' it to 'em? Why, that chap
who arranged the hold-up at Marseilles. You said nothin' much about it,
which was right an' proper, but Tagg is sharper'n he looks, an' he tole
me that a paper was nicked out of von Kerber's pocket. That paper put
the sharks on the scent. They got ahead of the _Aphrodite_ by catchin'
the Indian mail at Brindisi, an' had everything cut an' dried for us
when we dropped anchor here. Miss Irene an' me spotted one of 'em
watchin' the hotel this afternoon."
"I believe that man was Alfieri," said Dick, "Indeed, Mrs. Haxton
admitted it to me, and it was his unexpected appearance that caused her
to beat a retreat."
"An' who's Mr. Alfie Wot's-his-name?" broke in Stump.
"I'm sorry. I forgot that you had not heard of him. He is the man who
secured the papyrus, or paper, at Marseilles. Both Mrs. Haxton and the
Baron are afraid of him."
"You seem to know a dooce of a lot about this business," exclaimed the
skipper testily.
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