Part 51 (1/2)
The s.h.i.+powner refused point-blank to interfere in any way during the voyage.
”You promised your co-operation in business even if we found that the _Sirdar_ had gone down with all hands,” he retorted bitterly. ”Do you wish me to make my daughter believe she has come back into my life only to bring me irretrievable ruin?”
”That appears to be the result, no matter how you may endeavor to disguise it.”
”I thought the days were gone when a man would wish to marry a woman against her will.”
”Nonsense! What does she know about it? The glamour of this island romance will soon wear off. It would be different if Anstruther were able to maintain her even decently. He is an absolute beggar, I tell you. Didn't he s.h.i.+p on your own vessel as a steward? Take my tip, Deane. Tell him how matters stand with you, and he will cool off.”
He believed nothing of the sort, but he was desperately anxious that Iris should learn the truth as to her father's dilemma from other lips than his own. This would be the first point gained. Others would follow.
The two men were conversing in the Earl's cabin. On the deck overhead a very different chat was taking place.
The _Orient_ was due in Singapore that afternoon. Iris was invited into the chart-room on some pretext, and Lieutenant Playdon, delegated by the commander and the first lieutenant, b.u.t.tonholed Robert.
With sailor-like directness he came straight to the point--
”A few of us have been talking about you, Anstruther, and we cannot be far wrong in a.s.suming that you are hard up. The fact that you took a steward's job on the _Sirdar_ shows your disinclination to appeal to your own people for funds. Now, once you are ash.o.r.e, you will be landed in difficulties. To cut any further explanations, I am commissioned to offer you a loan of fifty pounds, which you can repay when you like.”
Robert's mouth tightened somewhat. For the moment he could not find words. Playdon feared he was offended.
”I am sorry, old chap, if we are mistaken,” he said hesitatingly; ”but we really thought--”
”Please do not endeavor to explain away your generous act,” exclaimed Anstruther. ”I accept it thankfully, on one condition.”
”Blow the condition. But what is it?”
”That you tell me the names of those to whom I am indebted besides yourself.”
”Oh, that is easy enough. Fitzroy and the first luff are the others. We kept it to a small circle, don't you know. Thought you would prefer that.”
Anstruther smiled and wrung his hand. There were some good fellows left in the world after all. The three officers acted in pure good nature.
They were a.s.sisting a man apparently down in his luck, who would soon be called on to face other difficulties by reason of his engagement to a girl apparently so far removed from him in station. And the last thing they dreamed of was that their kindly loan was destined to yield them a better return than all the years of their naval service, for their fifty pounds had gone into the pocket of a potential millionaire, who was endowed with the faculty, rare in millionaires, of not forgetting the friends of his poverty-stricken days.
CHAPTER XVII
RAINBOW ISLAND AGAIN--AND AFTERWARD
Sir Arthur Deane was sitting alone in his cabin in a state of deep dejection, when he was aroused by a knock, and Robert entered.
”Can you give me half an hour?” he asked. ”I have something to say to you before we land.”
The s.h.i.+powner silently motioned him to a seat.
”It concerns Iris and myself,” continued Anstruther. ”I gathered from your words when we met on the island that both you and Lord Ventnor regarded Iris as his lords.h.i.+p's promised bride. From your point of view the arrangement was perhaps natural and equitable, but since your daughter left Hong Kong it happens that she and I have fallen in love with each other. No; please listen to me. I am not here to urge my claims on you. I won her fairly and intend to keep her, were the whole House of Peers opposed to me. At this moment I want to tell you, her father, why she could never, even under other circ.u.mstances, marry Lord Ventnor.”
Then he proceeded to place before the astounded baronet a detailed history of his recent career. It was a sordid story of woman's perfidy, twice told. It carried conviction in every sentence. It was possible, of course, to explain matters more fully to the baronet than to Iris, and Anstruther's fierce resentment of the cruel wrong inflicted upon him blazed forth with overwhelming force. The intensity of his wrath in no way impaired the cogency of his arguments. Rather did it lend point and logical brevity. Each word burned itself into his hearer's consciousness, for Robert did not know that the unfortunate father was being coerced to a distasteful compact by the scoundrel who figured in the narrative as his evil genius.
At the conclusion Sir Arthur bowed his head between his hands.