It was impossible to mistake it, although an attempt to take it in his hand was promptly frustrated by the owner.
"But Captain Bowers said that he had burnt it," he cried.
Mr.Tredgold eyed him coldly.

"Burnt what ?" he inquired.
"The map," was the reply.
"Just so," said Tredgold.

"You told me he had burnt a map." "Is this another, then ?" inquired Mr.Chalk.
"P'r'aps," said Miss Vickers, briefly.
"As the captain said he had burnt his, this must be another," said Tredgold.
"Didn't he burn it, then ?" inquired Mr.Chalk.
"I should be sorry to disbelieve Captain Bowers," said Tredgold.
"Couldn't be done," said the brooding Stobell, "not if you tried." Mr.Chalk sat still and eyed them in perplexity.
"There is no doubt that this map refers to the same treasure as the one Captain Bowers had," said Tredgold, with the air of one making a generous admission.

"My client has not volunteered any statement as to how it came into her possession--" "And she's not going to," put in Miss Vickers, dispassionately.
"It is enough for me that we have got it," resumed Mr.Tredgold.

"Now, we want you to join us in fitting out a ship and recovering the treasure.
Equal expenses; equal shares." "What about Captain Bowers ?" inquired Mr.Chalk.
"He is to have an equal share without any of the expense," said Tredgold.
"You know he gave us permission to find it if we could, so we are not injuring anybody." "He told us to go and find it, if you remember," said Stobell, "and we're going to." "He'll have a fortune handed to him without any trouble or being responsible in any way," said Tredgold, impressively.