"How can he have been here?" Lenora cried.
Quest removed the lid from the box and drew out a circular card. Around
the outside edge was a very clever pen and ink sketch of a lifebuoy, and
inside the margin were several sentences of clear handwriting. In the
middle was the signature--the clenched hands! Quest read the message
aloud--
"In the great scheme of things, the Supreme Ruler of the
Universe divided an inheritance amongst His children. To one He
gave power, to another strength, to another beauty, but to His
favourites He gave cunning."
They all looked at one another.
"What does it mean?" Lenora gasped.
"A lifebuoy!" the Professor murmured.
They both stared at Quest, who remained silent, chewing hard at the end of
his cigar.
"Every message," he said, speaking half to himself, "has had some
significance. What does this mean--a lifebuoy?"
He was silent for a moment. Then he turned suddenly to the Professor.
"What did you call those men in the motor-truck, Professor--river pirates?
And a lifebuoy! Wait."
He crossed the room towards his desk and returned with a list in his hand.
He ran his finger down it, stopped and glanced at the date.
"The _Durham_," he muttered, "cargo cotton, destination Southampton, sails
at high tide on the 16th. Lenora, is that calendar right?"
"It's the 16th, Mr. Quest," she answered.
Quest crossed the room to the telephone.
"I want Number One Central, Exchange," he said.
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