Part 28 (1/2)
Matheson took the prospectus and read it through mechanically. The s.h.i.+powner, with an appearance of casualness, turned to a map on the wall behind him and studied the position of his Atlantic liners as indicated by the flag-pins.
Olive remained seated, her eyes fixed remorselessly on her husband.
Presently Matheson reached for a pen. ”What do you want on it?” he asked.
”Simply 'O.K., Clifford Matheson,'” answered the s.h.i.+powner without turning round. ”No date.”
Matheson wrote across the printed doc.u.ment the formal letters ”O.K.,”
and signed below.
Sylvester witnessed the signature, and pa.s.sed the doc.u.ment to his chief.
CHAPTER XXI
THE BOLTED DOOR
The moment he had that vital doc.u.ment safe in his breast-pocket, Lars Larssen was a changed man. His mask of cool indifference and his a.s.sumption of perfect leisure were thrown aside. His face was drawn with lines of anxiety as he snapped a rapid stream of orders at Sylvester:
”Send a wireless to the 'Aurelia' to put back at once to Plymouth.
'Phone Paddington to have a special ready for me in half-an-hour. 'Phone my house to pack me a portmanteau and send it to Paddington by fast car to catch the special. Get my office car round at once. Tell Bates and Carew and Grasemann I'd like them to travel with me to Plymouth to talk business. Let me know when all that's moving. Hurry!”
Sylvester sped away to execute his orders.
Larssen looked up at the portrait of his little boy, and the cablegram fluttered to the ground.
”What's the matter?” asked Olive.
”Pneumonia. Dangerously ill.”
”Poor little chap!”
”My only child!”
”He'll get over it, I'm sure.”
”He's never been strong and hardy.”
”Still, with the best doctors....”
”If money can pull him through, I'll pour it out like water. I'm off to the States to look after those fool doctors. The 'Aurelia' is one of my fastest boats, and she'll take me across in five days. I'll give treble pay to every engineer and stoker.”
”How long will you be away?”
”Can't say exactly.”
”How unfortunate, just at this time!”