"Rot!" he exclaimed. "If they're afraid of you, why did they ask
you to go with them?"

"They didn't!" cried Aldrich, truthfully and triumphantly. "They
kidnapped you and Moya because they thought they could square
themselves with YOU. But they didn't want ME!" The issue had been
fairly stated, and no longer with self-respect could I remain
silent.

"We don't want you now!" I said. "Can't you understand," I went on
with as much self-restraint as I could muster, "we are willing and
anxious to explain ourselves to Lord Ivy, or even to you, but we
don't want to explain to the police? My friend thought you and
Lord Ivy were crooks, escaping. You think WE are crooks, escaping.
You both--"

Aldrich snorted contemptuously.

"That's a likely story!" he cried. "No wonder you don't want to
tell THAT to the police!"

From the bow came an exclamation, and Lady Moya rose to her feet.

"Phil!" she said, "you bore me!" She picked her way across the
thwart to where Kinney sat at the stroke oar.

"My brother and I often row together," she said; "I will take your
place."