“He never faltered.  At that moment he had the certitude.  The air of the chart-room was thick with guilt and falsehood braving the discovery, defying simple right, common decency, all humanity of feeling, every scruple of conduct.

“The Northman drew a long breath.  ’Well, we know that you English are gentlemen.  But let us speak the truth.  Why should we love you so very much?  You haven’t done anything to be loved.  We don’t love the other people, of course.  They haven’t done anything for that either.  A fellow comes along with a bag of gold...  I haven’t been in Rotterdam my last voyage for nothing.’

“’You may be able to tell something interesting, then, to our people when you come into port,’ interjected the officer.

“I might.  But you keep some people in your pay at Rotterdam.  Let them report.  I am a neutral—­am I not?...  Have you ever seen a poor man on one side and a bag of gold on the other?  Of course, I couldn’t be tempted.  I haven’t the nerve for it.  Really I haven’t.  It’s nothing to me.  I am just talking openly for once.’

“‘Yes.  And I am listening to you,’ said the commanding officer, quietly.

“The Northman leaned forward over the table.  ’Now that I know you have no suspicions, I talk.  You don’t know what a poor man is.  I do.  I am poor myself.  This old ship, she isn’t much, and she is mortgaged, too.  Bare living, no more.  Of course, I wouldn’t have the nerve.  But a man who has nerve!  See.  The stuff he takes aboard looks like any other cargo—­packages, barrels, tins, copper tubes—­what not.  He doesn’t see it work.  It isn’t real to him.  But he sees the gold.  That’s real.  Of course, nothing could induce me.  I suffer from an internal disease.  I would either go crazy from anxiety—­or—­or—­take to drink or something.  The risk is too great.  Why—­ruin!’

“‘It should be death.’  The commanding officer got up, after this curt declaration, which the other received with a hard stare oddly combined with an uncertain smile.  The officer’s gorge rose at the atmosphere of murderous complicity which surrounded him, denser, more impenetrable, more acrid than the fog outside.

“‘It’s nothing to me,’ murmured the Northman, swaying visibly.

“‘Of course not,’ assented the commanding officer, with a great effort to keep his voice calm and low.  The certitude was strong within him.  ’But I am going to clear all you fellows off this coast at once.  And I will begin with you.  You must leave in half an hour.’

“By that time the officer was walking along the deck with the Northman at his elbow.

“‘What!  In this fog?’ the latter cried out, huskily.

“‘Yes, you will have to go in this fog.’

“‘But I don’t know where I am.  I really don’t.’

“The commanding officer turned round.  A sort of fury possessed him.  The eyes of the two men met.  Those of the Northman expressed a profound amazement.