Part 18 (1/2)
”It is likely to be a rough pa.s.sage,” said Breitmann experimentally.
”He doesn't want me to go.” Fitzgerald stroked his chin slyly.
”We have crossed the Atlantic twice in the yacht,” Laura affirmed with a bit of pride; ”once in March too, and a heavy sea half the way.”
”Enter me as cabin-boy or supercargo,” said Fitzgerald. ”If you don't you'll find a stowaway before two days out.”
”That's the spirit.” The admiral drew strongly on his cigar. He had really never been so excited since his first sea-engagement. ”And it comes in so pat, Laura. We were going away in a month anyway. Now we can notify the guests that we've cut down the time two weeks. I tell you what it is, this will be the greatest cruise I ever laid a course to.”
”Guests?” murmured Fitzgerald, unconsciously poaching on Breitmann's thought.
”Yes. But they shall know nothing till we land in Corsica. And in a day or two this fellow would have laid hands on these things and we'd never been any the wiser.”
”And may we not expect more of him?” said Breitmann.
”Small good it will do him.”
”Corsica,” repeated the girl dreamily.
”Ay, Napoleon. The Corsican Brothers' daggers and vendetta, the restless island! It is full of interest. I have been there.”
Breitmann smiled pleasantly at the girl, but his thought was unsmiling.
Versed as he was in reading at a glance expression, whether it lay in the eyes, in the lips, or the hands, he realized with chagrin that he had made a misstep somewhere. For some reason he would have given much to know, Fitzgerald was covertly watching him.
”You have been there, too, have you not, Mr. Fitzgerald?” asked Laura.
”Oh, yes; but never north of Ajaccio.”
”Laura, what a finis.h.i.+ng touch this will give to my book.” For the admiral was compiling a volume of treasures found, lost and still being hunted. ”All I can say is, that I am really sorry that the money wasn't used for the purpose intended.”
”I do not agree there,” said Fitzgerald.
”And why not?” asked Breitmann.
”France is better off as she is. She has had all the empires and monarchies she cares for. Wonderful country! See how she has lived in spite of them all. There will never be another kingdom in France, at least not in our generation. There's a Napoleon in Belgium and a Bourbon in England; the one drills mediocre soldiers and the other shoots grouse. They will never go any further.”
The secretary spread his fingers and shrugged. ”If there was only a direct descendant of Napoleon!”
”Well, there isn't,” retorted Fitzgerald, dismissing the subject into limbo. ”And much good it would do if there was.”
”This treasure would rightly be his,” insisted Breitmann.
”It was put together to bring Napoleon back. There is no Napoleon to bring back.”
”In other words, the money belongs to the finder?”
”Exactly.”
”Findings is keepings,” the admiral determined. ”That's Captain Flanagan's rule.”