"Good for any game you like to put before 'em," was the brisk summary.

"That is what I want. But tell me, captain, will you be able to replace
Mr. Royson? I believe he is useful when it comes to sailing the yacht,
yet I have no doubt you can dispense with him?"

Stomp was shrewd in a limited way. He caught the drift of von Kerber's
comment, and it did not help to further the scheme which the latter had
in mind.

"Mr. Royson?" came the quick growl. "What of him? Next to Tagg, he's
the best man in the crowd."

"Possibly, but I have reason to believe that he wishes to return to
England."

"He hasn't said so."

"Not to you, perhaps, but I know it is so, and I do not wish to detain
him when our numbers are already ample for all purposes. I am awkwardly
placed in the matter, as Mr. Fenshawe feels under a slight obligation
to him, so I shall be glad if you will pay him off to-morrow, on a
generous basis, of course, with every allowance for the expenses of the
homeward passage."

"Wot?" said Stump, moving restlessly under von Kerber's fixed gaze.
"D'ye mean it, mister?"

"I do, most certainly."