These Brazilians will not scruple to make use of you, and
then throw you aside if it suits their purpose. That man, De Sylva,
does not care how he attains power, and I know that he and the officer
entertain some plan which they have not revealed to you."
"You . . . _know_."
"Yes. I understand a little of their language. I have a mere glimpse
of its sense, as one sees a landscape through a mist. When De Sylva
told you to-day that San Benavides was with you heart and soul, he was
lying. There were things said about a ship, and midnight, and a boat.
I watched the officer's face. He was wholly opposed to the landing
to-night. My mind is not so vague now. I think I can grasp his
meaning. Was it not to-night that the _Andros-y-Mela_ was to appear?"
"Yes."
"Well, may they not hope secretly that she will keep to the fixed hour?
Once you and I and the others are on the island, and an alarm is given,
the Brazilians could slip away unnoticed. Yes, that is it. I do not
trust them any more than I trusted Captain Coke. Don't you realize
that he brought the _Andromeda_ to this place in order to wreck her
more easily? It was to supply a pretext for the visit that he made
undrinkable the water in the ship's tanks."
That appealing hand still rested on Philip's shoulder.
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