"I heard the watchman fired a shot as well," Mackay said dryly. "He boasted that he chased away a whole band of desperadoes, half a dozen at least."
"It was dark, sir. He would not see clearly."
Mackay grunted. "I don"t approve of my officers acting outwith the law, Watters, however noble their intentions. Why were you there?" His fingers drummed on the table as Watters told him about Beaumont financing the ship for a foreign owner, William Caskie"s conversation with the French and Belgian arms manufacturers, and Caskie"s presence on the French coper.
"Who was Caskie meeting?" Mackay"s question was direct.
"I don"t know, sir," Watters admitted.
"You found nothing in Rogers" Yard."
"No, sir. The workmen believe the ship is being built for either the Emperor of China or of France."
"W
