Hurricane Island

"Thre

promise, yet I allowed myself the satisfaction of certain inquiries. No one in the club had heard of Morland, the millionaire, and the Sea Queen was unknown to my yachting friends. Moreover, no Morland appeared in the "Court Guide." Still, it was quite possible, even probable, that he was an American; so that omission did not abash me. It was only when I rehearsed the circumstances in bald terms that I doubt

in Lincoln's Inn Fields, and, premising that I was a candidate for the post of doctor in the SS. Sea Queen, requested me to call on Monday at three o'clock. This l

s ushered into the presence of one of the partners, an am

queried introductiv

e Sea Queen." He consulted some note before him. "I see. Your name has been

eover," I added, "I have no doubt, if a recommendation were necessary,

, yes, the cancer man. Let me see, he was Pres

years ago,"

ore if Sir John will write. My client is a prudent man, and would naturally like to have the best advice available. Moreove

at naturally I should like as large a salar

e that too. You are young yet, and the position might lead--" He broke

very well! It's opportune in a way. Will you

be able to introduce you to my client, who is the owner of the Sea Queen," he s

the presence of wealth. "I was just engaged on a little matter of yours. I hope you came

d me, and for the first

rriage, and with a bronzed, good-looking face, rendered heavier for the dull expression of his bl

e, and though he spoke excellent English, there w

yet," said the lawyer, smiling. "This is

a hand mechanically. "You will arrange it,"

I thought you would like t

ng. You know anything of t

, as it happened. In these days we doctors are compelled to

ust all keep step with the times. I will look to you to arrange it," he added again to the lawyer, and seemed to wait for my di

tle lawyer's clerk who had entered the room and had been called Pye. He was tal

land?" he asked

t the stranger. There seeme

ye, adjusting his glasses, "and yet I suppose it isn't. Mr. H

sn't settled," sai

ce," he said. "It's my business to interpret hi

ig body, and a face round and gross in proportion,

to walk in the direction of Holborn. When we had threaded the Great Turnstile the little clerk hesitated

n interested in my fellow-creatures, and, finally, I was in the mood for a glass of something. Enters this trio, then, into the "Three Tuns" presently, and sits to a table in comfortable chairs, with the clatter of the

pince-nez on me as t

have, docto

sita

ort is more palatable and no more noxio

act," said the little man,

id Holgate, in his

brisk wit. He smiled at his smartness and

for choice, but as they won't have it here, I

hot attentively but with indifference. I think, except for the first gl

" said he, "to a prosperous voyage, Mr

ird officer wheezily, and I murm

velvet," said Holgate

asses, "I wouldn't go so far as to say i

seen that kind on the ferry-all air

sfactory to be sailing under a real Tartar,"

nquired, but was indifferent. "Wh

ling. "I am much more inte

e stroked his black moustaches,

u, doctor," he said, nodd

at this schoolboy business, his ears alert, his glasses shining, and his white teeth going to and fro. He reminded me

o know your owner, let alone his travelling with you. I wouldn't give two stra

said Pye reassuringly. "Captain Day

ry rich?"

d the clerk cheerfully, "and then I'd live like a fighting-co

h and brightness entered more customers, and shook the water from the umbrellas. They stood at the bar and drank and talked noisily

e another,"

said. He shook his

" he said, "whereas I have my appointme

fair argument, d

bt," said I lightly.

both many a time yet," said

ven as we, but one had a half-penny paper, and turned t

t you--," began Pye amiably, an

nce I caught some word

ts to marry her. What's the odds if he

ound and he stared for a moment at

ly polite," said

the little man sweetly. "One gets echoes everywhere

," said I. "But w

I can't say anything about Mr. Morland, w

s from Hambu

ve so,"

s desti

out of my province," sa

ws he looked a man who could keep a secret, and knew his own mind. Yet he had been so easily familiar that I flushed with re

the cabin-boy's province to-mo

Holgate, who had turned at my to

said the third officer in his slow voice, "and

a lawyer here,

we all laughed and grew friendly again. "Well, this is a funny sort of tea for me

which shone on his broad placid face. "I knew a m

a lawyer," said

the hills was the wealth of a millionaire; coal, doctor," Holg

t object?

in buying it from the owner, and

f inviting comment. He had simply stated h

t lu

rd got it?

," said the t

tly be a baronet

and began to smile. I fancy we all smiled, tho

ed robbery?"

it," said Pye. "No; it's qu

el their way amid the intricacies, but no one else ca

r example," said H

not perks," said little Py

e from you for ten bob which I know

d. "I give it

my mood, "that it takes a good capercu

eans quite," said Holgate, giving m

s forbidding. "Well, the most famous people have been those who have

have," said Holg

on. The little clerk's eyebrows were elevated in a question, and the men faced each other. Holga

ging," said Pye, s

ipmates, if, of course, I was to join the company. Holgate puzzled me for a third officer, until I reflected that in these days every officer had a master's licence. Yet that this man should not by the force of his evident individuality take higher rank in life surprised me

that were possible. I knew the name of the owner, or at least of the man who had chartered her; I had the name and acquaintance of one or two of the company; but I knew nothing as to her destination, her properties as a boat, or her time of sailing. Some of this ignorance I hoped to remedy by my visit. And it seemed that I was in the way to do so

er, at which he indulgently

t of us too-and we picked up Mr. Mor

echoed, for here

him-Miss Morland and another l

n you're off for a

e. "They do say New York, bu

d as an American. He was perhaps a Trust King, a

ted that I might care to

t me take you on false pretences. I

"It can't do no harm. We're only loading up

's affection for his floating home, and pointed me out one or two points for admiration which I understood

he asked in a harsh

look round. He's to be doct

but stared at me, and

pt," I comme

his way," said the good-nature

and an Ameri

ed on at Glasgow with a little slip of a fellow r

d be Mr. P

to take a squint at the eng

rded man from the depths. "This gentleman wants to know what you can do," said my friend, by way of introduction. The engineer nodded towards

boat!"

began to peruse under the slender light. "This now's another slap in

d. "I haven't seen t

chburg kicking over the traces. I tell ye I'm real sorry for the old

stand what this ne

his inheritance and marry her. That's where the mischief is. Not that the man's not right," proceeded the Scotchman, warming, evidently, to his opinions. "For why sho

ties," I said. "For with a vacancy at Hochburg

resent juncture of European politics. But, man, the principle's all wrong. Why is a man, no better than you or me, to ride over us, whether it be riches, o

ng to the Millennium famo

he said, with a

ent, as he was responsible for the introduction, and he now ventured on

ming along with us,

neer loo

or, but it's by no mean

his gentleman'll, maybe, take a finger of whisky to his own health-and ours," he add

Queen was peopled with amiable spirits, if I excepted the boatswain; and as I went over the side I congratulated myself on h

the man at the next table in the "Three Tuns" must have referred to the scandal, and as I reflected