the pirate talk to you as if he were making any effort to disguise his voice?” “Not at all.” “Did anything about his voice, his manner, his walk,[35] his air, or his conduct remind you of any living person you know, or of anybody you have ever seen before?” [35] Kane broke out into immoderate laughter, and, turning toward the count, he exclaimed: “What did I tell you, Cadillac?” and then to Nick he added: “Count Cadillac ought to thank his stars that he was here aboard the yacht when the pirate visited us, for, honestly, Carter, there was not a thing about him which did not in some way suggest the count himself to me.” “Indeed!” said Nick. “That is rather remarkable, don’t you think so?” “Highly so. I should say,” said the count. Kane laughed on; but presently he said: “His voice, his manner of speaking, his walk, his carriage, his general air, his height, his figure—even his courtly bow—was Count Cadillac all over. We have had a good laugh about it among ourselves, Carter. Even the count admits it to be true, and, like a good fellow, he has consented not to take offense if I forget myself and joke him about it.” “That is very kind of you, count,” said the detective. “It can’t be very pleasant to be told that you resemble a pirate.” “Oh, I don’t at all mind it, Mr. Carter.” “And do you yourself recognize the logic of the suggestion?” “I am forced to admit that I do.” “Did the pirate, at the time he was here, remind you of yourself?” [36] [36] “Oh, well, that is perhaps going too far, don’t you know. I must confess that I did not discover it at the time; but afterward, when the subject was brought to my attention——”
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