Part 7 (1/2)
The old woman opened her eyes and gaped with astonishment.
”A million dollars, Mr. Kenneth!”
”Yes, a million dollars. What's more, I'll soon be able to show it to you, Mary. My trip out to South Africa is ostensibly for the purpose of negotiating for more land. The real purpose of my journey is to bring home this astonis.h.i.+ng stone.”
”But how will you carry it, Mr. Kenneth? A stone worth a million dollars must be big as a house.”
Kenneth laughed.
”No--no, Mary. It can easily go in my waistcoat pocket. But for safety's sake it won't. I don't mind letting you into my confidence.
I'm to have a secret bottom made in----”
Before he could complete the sentence, Helen quickly clapped her hand over his mouth, and he had not yet recovered from his astonishment when she sprang to the door and opened it. The movement was so sudden and unexpected that a man who had been leaning against it, fell all his length into the room. It was Francois, the French valet.
”_Excusez_,” he stammered, ”I stumbled.”
Kenneth stared first at the servant, then at his wife. Slowly he began to comprehend. Turning to the Frenchman he demanded angrily:
”What were you doing behind that door?”
”_Excusez_. I came back to ask monsieur how many s.h.i.+rts I pack.”
Thoroughly aroused, the promoter pointed to the door. Sternly he said:
”Get out of here--you fool! If you don't know your business, I'll get some one else who does.”
The Frenchman beat a rapid retreat. There was a malevolent look on his face, but he murmured respectfully enough:
”_Oui, monsieur_.”
Kenneth turned to his wife.
”What did he come back for?” he demanded.
”He was listening--behind the door,” she replied calmly.
CHAPTER IV
The dirty, sullen waters of the harbor washed lazily against the black, precipitous sides of the giant liner which, under a full head of steam, vibrated with suppressed energy, straining at mighty cables as if impatient to start on her long and hazardous voyage across the tumbling seas. A raw, piercing northeaster, howling dismally above the monotonous creaking and puffing of the donkey-engine, swept through the cheerless, draughty dock, chilling the spectators to the marrow. The sun, vainly trying to break through the banks of leaden-colored clouds, cast a grayish pall over land and sky. A day it was of sinister portent, that could not fail to have a depressing effect on sailor and landlubber alike.
Yet unpropitious skies and chilly wind did not appear to keep people at home. The steamer was crowded, both with those who were sailing and those who were not. The gangways, staterooms were overrun not only by pa.s.sengers, but by all sorts of visitors curious to get a glimpse of the luxurious liner. The first-cla.s.s saloon, heaped high on all sides with American Beauty roses and orchids, looked as gay and full of color as a florist's shop.
”Isn't it perfectly stunning? How I adore s.h.i.+ps!” exclaimed Ray, eager to see everything.
Keeping close together, the two young women with difficulty elbowed their way through the excited throng. They were anxious to rejoin Kenneth whom they had left in the stateroom giving instructions to Francois, and they began to be afraid they might lose him in the crush.
Delighted at everything she saw, Ray could not contain herself.
”Oh, how I wish I were going! Why doesn't Ken take me?”
Helen turned to her in mock despair.