Without knowing why, I stepped around the desk, and peered into the bathroom.

It was small, but perfect in arrangement, and, to my surprise, revealed a second door.
In an instant I understood--this was not Herman's private bath, but was also used by the Captain; that second door led to the after-cabin.

I was there in two strides, my ear at the crack listening.

Nothing reached me but the murmur of a voice, the words indistinguishable, yet this was sufficient to convince me that I was on the right trail.

The two were together, and here was an opportunity for me to reach them unobserved.