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Chapter 3
Thatfeelingledhimtoask—
“Whathasthatruffiandonewiththeothertwo?”
“Thechiefengineerhewouldhaveletgoinanycase,”saidthedoctor.“Hewouldn’tliketohaveaquarrelwiththerailwayuponhishands.Notjustyet,atanyrate.Idon’tthink,CaptainMitchell,thatyouunderstandexactlywhatSotillo’spositionis—”
“Idon’tseewhyIshouldbothermyheadaboutit,”snarledCaptainMitchell.
“No,”assentedthedoctor,withthesamegrimcomposure.“Idon’tseewhyyoushould.Itwouldn’thelpasinglehumanbeingintheworldifyouthoughteversoharduponanysubjectwhatever.”
“No,”saidCaptainMitchell,simply,andwithevidentdepression.“Amanlockedupinaconfoundeddarkholeisnotmuchusetoanybody.”
“AstooldViola,”thedoctorcontinued,asthoughhehadnotheard,“Sotilloreleasedhimforthesamereasonheispresentlygoingtoreleaseyou.”
“Eh?What?”exclaimedCaptainMitchell,staringlikeanowlinthedarkness.“WhatisthereincommonbetweenmeandoldViola?Morelikelybecausetheoldchaphasnowatchandchainforthepickpockettosteal.AndItellyouwhat,Dr.Monygham,”hewentonwithrisingcholer,“hewillfinditmoredifficultthanhethinkstogetridofme.Hewillburnhisfingersoverthatjobyet,Icantellyou.Tobeginwith,Iwon’tgowithoutmywatch,andastotherest—weshallsee.
