Part 13 (2/2)

”I almost think he is by this time,” said Brown, reflectively. ”Now, he did not seem quite sure when he wrote those letters that there was really any gum in her. At least, he hadn't found it, and I understand that circ.u.mstances had made him a little suspicious about the _c.u.mbria_'s skipper, who we know is dead. Taking oil at present value, in view of what we would have to pay for a salvage expedition and chartering, there is, it seems to me, nothing in the thing.”

”I'm not quite sure of that; but you are still presuming Jefferson dead.”

Brown turned and looked at him. ”The first thing we have to do is to find out. Somebody will have to go across, and, of course, he must be a reliable man. I should be disposed to go so far as to meet the necessary expenses, not as a business venture, but because Jacinta would give me no peace if I didn't.”

”There would be no difficulty about the man.”

Brown turned to him sharply. ”You?”

”Yes. If Jefferson is dead I should probably also undertake to do what I can to meet his wishes as executor.”

Brown sat silent a s.p.a.ce, and then tapped the letter with his gla.s.ses again. ”In that case I might go as far as to find, say, 200. It should, at least, be sufficient to prove if there is any odd chance of getting the _c.u.mbria_ off.”

”I think I shall do that with 80, but I should prefer that you did not provide it. That is, unless you decide to go into the thing on a business footing, and take your share of the results, as laid down by Jefferson.”

Brown seemed to be looking hard at him, but they sat in shadow, and Austin was glad of it.

”Ah!” he said quietly, though there was a significance in his tone.

”Well, somebody must certainly go across, and if you fail elsewhere you can always fall back on me for--a loan. When are you going?”

”By the first boat that calls anywhere near the creek.”

He rose and turned away, but Pancho Brown sat still, with a curious expression in his face. If any of the dancers had noticed him, it would probably have occurred to them that he was thinking hard. Pancho Brown was a quiet man, but he often noticed a good deal more than his daughter gave him credit for. Still, when at length he rose and joined Farquhar there was nothing in his appearance which suggested that he was either anxious or displeased.

In the meanwhile Austin came upon Mrs. Hatherly, who was wandering up and down the deck, and she drew him beneath a lifeboat.

”Miss Gascoyne is, no doubt, distressed? I am sorry for her,” he said.

The little lady held his arm in a tightening grasp. ”Of course,” she said, and there was a tremour in her voice. ”Still, after all, that does not concern us most just now. Somebody must go, and see what can be done for Mr. Jefferson.”

”Yes,” said Austin. ”I am going.”

”Then--and I am sure you will excuse me--it will cost a good deal, and you cannot be a rich man, or----”

”I should not have been on board the _Estremedura_? You are quite correct, madam.”

Mrs. Hatherly made a little deprecatory gesture. ”I am not exactly poor; in fact, I have more money than I shall live to spend, and I always meant to leave it to Muriel. It seems to me that it would be wiser to spend some of it on her now. You will let me give you what you want, Mr.

Austin?”

Austin stood silent a moment, with a flush in his face, and then gravely met her gaze.

”I almost think I could let you lend me forty pounds. With that I shall have enough in the meanwhile. You will not think me ungracious if I say that just now I am especially sorry I have not more money of my own?”

The little lady smiled at him. ”Oh, I understand. That is what made me almost afraid. It cannot be nice to borrow from a woman. Still, I think you could, if it was necessary, do even harder things.”

”I shall probably have to,” said Austin, a trifle drily. ”I don't mind admitting that what you have suggested is a great relief to me.”

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