Part 25 (2/2)

”Did I?” he answered with a cynical laugh. ”Didn't I? They were a couple of rank bad 'uns! I have never professed sanct.i.ty, Mr.

Middlebrook, but Noah and Salter Quick were of a brand that's far beyond me--they were bad men. I'll tell you more of 'em, later--here's Miss Raven.”

”I may as well tell you,” I murmured hastily, ”that Miss Raven knows as much as I do about all that I've just told you.”

”That so?” he said. ”Um! And she looks a sensible sort of la.s.s, too--well, I'll tell you both what I know--as I say, later. But now--some tea!”

While he went forward to give his orders, I contrived to inform Miss Raven of the gist of our recent conversation, and to a.s.sert my own private belief in Baxter's innocence. I saw that she was already prejudiced in his favour.

”I'm glad to know that,” she said. ”But in that case--the mystery's all the deeper. What is it, I wonder, that he can tell.”

”Wait till he speaks,” said I. ”We shall learn something.”

Baxter came back, presently followed by the little Chinaman whom I had seen before, who deftly set up a small table on deck, drew chairs round it, and a few minutes later spread out all the necessaries of a dainty afternoon tea. And in the centre of them was a plum cake. I saw Miss Raven glance at it; I glanced at her; I knew of what she was thinking. Her thoughts had flown to the plum cake at Lorrimore's, made by Wing, his Chinese servant.

But whatever we thought, we said nothing. The situation was romantic, and not without some attraction, even in those curious circ.u.mstances.

Here we were, prisoners, first-cla.s.s prisoners, if you will, but still prisoners, and there was our gaoler; he and ourselves sat round a tea-table, munching toast, nibbling cakes and dainties, sipping fragrant tea, as if we had been in any lady's drawing-room. I think it speaks well for all of us that we realized the situation and made the most of it by affecting to ignore the actual reality. We chatted, as well-behaved people should under similar conditions, about anything but the prime fact of our imprisonment; Baxter, indeed, might have been our very polite and attentive host and we his willing guests. As for Miss Raven, she accepted the whole thing with hearty good humour and poured out the tea as if she had been familiar with our new quarters for many a long day; moreover, she adopted a friendly att.i.tude towards our captors which did much towards smoothing any present difficulties.

”You seem to be very well accommodated in the matter of servants, Mr.

Baxter,” she observed. ”That little Chinaman, as you said, is as good as a French maid, and you certainly have a good cook--excellent pastry-cook, anyway.”

Baxter glanced lazily in the direction of the galley.

”Another Chinaman,” he answered. He looked significantly at me. ”Mr.

Middlebrook,” he continued, ”is aware that I bought this yawl from a s.h.i.+p-broker in Hull, for a special purpose--”

”Not aware of the special purpose,” I interrupted, with a purposely sly glance at him.

”The special purpose is a run across the Atlantic, if you want to know,” he answered carelessly. ”Of course, when I'd got her, I wanted a small crew. Now, I've had great experience of Chinamen--best servants on earth, in my opinion--so I sailed her down to the Thames, went up to London Docks, and took in some Chinese chaps that I got in Limehouse. Two men and one cook--man cook, of course. He's good--I can't promise you a real and proper dinner tonight, but I can promise a very satisfactory subst.i.tute which we call supper.”

”And you're going across the Atlantic with a crew of three?” I asked.

”As a matter of fact,” he answered candidly, ”there are six of us. The three Chinese; myself; my friend who was with me this afternoon, and who will join us again tomorrow, and another friend who will return with him, and who, like the crew, is a Chinaman. But he's a Chinaman of rank and position.”

”In other words, the Chinese gentleman who was with you and your French friend in Hull?” I suggested.

”Just so--since we're to be frank,” he answered. ”The same.” Then, with a laugh, he glanced at Miss Raven. ”Mr. Middlebrook,” he said, ”considers me the most candid desperado he ever met!”

”Your candour is certainly interesting,” replied Miss Raven.

”Especially if you really are a desperado. Perhaps--you'll give us more of it?”

”I'll tell you a bit--later on,” he said. ”That Quick business, I mean.”

Suddenly, setting down his tea-cup, he got up and moved away towards the galley, into which he presently disappeared. Miss Raven turned sharply on me.

”Did you eat a slice of that plum-cake?” she whispered. ”You did?”

”I know what you're thinking,” I answered. ”It reminds you of the cake that Lorrimore's man, Wing, makes.”

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