Faro marked down favourably that the boy had inherited the useful asset of observation, despite his terror. Meanwhile there were many more urgent questions the kidnapping attempt raised. Particularly George's reactions to his bodyguard Tomas's fatal accident at Glenatholl.
He was considering how to raise the subject tactfully without further distressing the boy when a door opened and Anton shot on to the deck, out of breath and distraught.
Terrified!
It needed only one glance at his face to tell them something dreadful had happened.
Chapter 12
'I have been searching for you, everywhere,' Anton shouted. 1 thought you might - might be dead!'
'Dead!' George looked quickly at Faro. 'In English, Anton, so that Mr Faro can understand.'
Flustered and shaking, Anton repeated slowly to Faro what he had said to George. 'I thought he might be dead.'
George laughed. 'Not at all. Here I am having a fine time with Mr Faro. Have you recovered from the seasickness?'
'Recovered!' Anton screamed at him. 'Don't you understand? I almost died out there. I was attacked. Someone tried to - kill -me!'
It was George's turn to look alarmed. 'What do you mean? Who would want to kill you?' He laughed uneasily. 'Anton, you must be mistaken.'
Again Anton turned to Faro and said slowly in measured tones. 'Someone has just tried to push me overboard.'
At his companion's dramatic announcement, George gave a horrified gasp. 'Anton - no!'
'Yes. It was like this. I was feeling better, not so queasy and as Dieter and Helga were still asleep, I decided to have some fresh air. It is horrible being in a tiny cabin with sick people. I thought I would come up on deck and look for you but I turned dizzy again and leaned against the rail. That was when someone grabbed me.'
'What was he like?' asked George. 'Did you see his face?'
Anton hesitated. 'No. But I think - ' he hesitated, 'yes, definitely, a big strong man.'
And Faro's mind flashed back to the description of George's kidnapper as Anton said, 'He crept up, took me by surprise.'
Again Faro thought of the scene in Glenatholl's gardens that George had just described.
'He had a stick, he raised it to strike,' Anton continued. 'But I was fortunate. At that moment the ship lurched, it threw him off balance and I ran away as fast as I could.' He paused. 'That is why I am out of breath.'
Before Faro could ask for more details George, who was clearly very doubtful about this little drama, asked, 'Are you sure he meant to kill you, Anton?'
'Of course,' was the angry reply. 'How could I be mistaken about that?'
'It could have been the ship lurching at that moment that threw him off balance so that he bumped into you.'
The voice of reason, thought Faro, amazed at George's calm and quite logical interpretation.
'No,' Anton shook his head firmly. 'I am perfectly sure he meant to throw me overboard.'
'But why, Anton? Why should a complete stranger threaten you so violently?'
'That is easy. Because he thought I was you,' said Anton triumphantly. And at George's horrified exclamation, 'Yes, you, George! We are much the same height and in the darkness, with my back turned to him. You see, I am wearing a cap and your cape - here.'
As he held it out, George regarded it wide-eyed.
'I picked it up to come on deck. Helga was using mine as a blanket and I didn't want to disturb her, Dieter was also asleep, as I told you. Now, what do you think of that, George?'
Dazed, George shook his head.
'So it is true, Mr Faro,' said Anton sternly. 'Someone is trying to kill him. They have followed us and they are here on this ship.'
Faro inclined to George's interpretation, since the alternative was very sinister indeed. But if Anton was not dramatising an accident then the killer had bungled his opportunity. He had run out of time for a second attempt, as the ferry was arriving at Calais.
Just then an announcement was made that passengers were to remain on the ferry until morning due to the breakdown of the Club Train on its way from Paris. There were cries of dismay and alarm at this news, though passengers who had booked cabins gave a sigh of relief and were not at all sorry to retire and continue their journey the following morning.
Faro was glad of Dieter's foresight and as the two boys raced ahead down the companionway he seized the opportunity of telling the bodyguard about Anton's alarming experience.
Dieter shrugged. 'He has mentioned it,' he said in a voice devoid of all emotion.
'And what were your conclusions? Do you think it was, as he believed, meant for George?'
Again that shrug of the shoulders. Dieter spread his hands wide.
'Who knows? It might have been an accident, but we must remain vigilant at all times. Expect the unexpected, as they say in your country,' he added as they reached the cabin where the two boys were waiting.
Full of a solitary sleeper's apprehension and resigned to spending a crowded night in a small space with relative strangers - all but George, for he was no longer included in that category - Faro was pleased to find that the four bunks in the cabin were at least roomy and comfortable.
'Where is Helga?' he asked.
Dieter's shrug indicated indifference to this matter. 'I believe she has found accommodation among the other servants travelling with their employers.'
The two boys were obviously very tired but brightened up considerably at being given a complimentary meal in the elegant ferry restaurant.
At last they retired and Faro hoped sleep would be possible since not all the travellers were weary. Some were in high spirits, already exhibiting every intention of whiling away the hours until morning with wine, women and an abundance of song.
As for Faro, he was surprised to find that despite his misgivings about the crowded sleeping
