'
'The evidence against us,' said Ken, 'is that of Kemp, late bathroom
steward aboard the "Cardigan Castle," a man who has a personal grudge
against me because I caught him signalling to an enemy submarine.'
'Again your unsupported statement,' said Henkel.
'It's the truth,' growled Roy from the background.
'Your evidence in a case like this is valueless,' said Henkel shortly. He
turned to Ken again.
'Have you heard from your father since you last saw him?' he asked
suddenly.
The question took Ken unawares.
'From my father?' he said, with sudden eagerness. 'No. Is he alive?'
There was a gleam of triumph in Henkel's prominent eyes.
'Yes,' he answered. 'He is alive and--under the circumstances--well.'
'I--I thought' began Ken and stopped.
'You thought that he had been shot,' said Henkel grimly. 'That would
indeed have been his fate but for my interference. I used my influence to
get his sentence altered to a term of imprisonment.'
Ken changed colour. He found it desperately difficult to keep a cool head.
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