"How did you come to be nearly drowned that night you came to us?" asked Pellew.
"I'd come off a boat. I'd jumped overboard," replied Larose. "I was a bathroom steward, but I'd been caught with a passenger's wallet and put in a cell. I got out and preferred the chance of getting ashore to more prison. I made a mistake. I thought I was much nearer land."
"Then you made it all up about the Annette being blown up?" asked Pellew.
"Yes," nodded Larose. He grinned. "I'm pretty good at yarns. I——"
"Wait a moment," broke in Pellew. "There is a motor launch called Annette. I looked it up in the register."
"Of course there is," said Larose, in no way put out. "I came upon a board with the name upon it as I was swimming ashore." He turned the conversation quickly. "But how much are you going to
