Part 5 (1/2)
”I suppose it's against orders for me to speak to this man,” he said.
”Yes, sir.”
The architect sighed, and walked away.
The parade became more interesting as the lack of news from the investigators restored a sort of hopeful optimism to the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of the anxious company. Those who had maintained a stubborn air of bravado, now became almost offensively jaunty. Others, frankly terrified at the outset, sauntered timidly away from the life-boats to which they were a.s.signed. Every one was glad that the Captain had ordered a life-boat drill on the first afternoon out, and every one was glad that he had ignored the demand of Mr. Landover that the boats be lowered the instant he discovered that his pa.s.sengers were in peril. No news was good news, argued the majority, and jesting was in order.
Peter Snipe, the novelist, got out a pad of paper and began jotting down impressions. Madam Careni-Amori and Signor Joseppi exchanged the first friendly words they had spoken to each other in weeks, and in full view of an entranced audience linked arms and strode bravely to and fro, the former clasping a huge jewel case to her ample bosom, the latter chafing perceptibly under the weight of an invisible belt stuffed to its capacity with banknotes and gold. Chilean ladies and Chilean gentlemen, dazzling Brazilian ladies and pompous Brazilian gentlemen, smug Argentinians, lordly Castilians, garrulous Portuguese, lofty English gentlemen and supercilious English ladies, friendly and irrepressible Americans,--all of them swinging their sea-legs with new-found abandon--clattered solidly around the wind-swept circuit. New faces appeared in the procession, new voices were raised with energy, new figures sprang into existence with marvellous rapidity. It seemed to Percival that the population doubled and tripled and quadrupled with every throb of the powerful engines. He saw his ”bunkie” of the night before,--the man who was trying so hard to die and couldn't,--he saw him plunging along with the throng, pale but valiant, ferociously glaring at every one who smoked.
A small group of American nurses, some young and pretty, others young and homely, but all of them sprightly and clear-eyed,--nine of them, in fact--tramped by in ”columns of three.”
Percival's guardian jerked his head in their direction after they had pa.s.sed, and volunteered this bit of information:
”Hornswoggled, them girls was. Come all the way down from New York six months ago. Promised double pay and plenty of work in the American colony. Sore as crabs, all of 'em. They got double pay all right, all right, but there was some misunderstandin' as to what single pay was to be to start off with. Single pay turned out to be just whatever suited the people that employed 'em, seein's they were nearly seven thousand miles away from G.o.d and up against it, so they're beatin' it back home to volunteer for service in France. I heard one of 'em say she could save more money workin' for nothin' in France than she could earn in a year down here at double pay. What'd you say your name was, young feller?”
”Percival.”
”I mean your last name.”
”That's it.”
”Come off! n.o.body ever had a last name like that.”
”You ought to hear what my first name is,--and my middle one, too. You said a little while ago you'd never seen any one of my size with bigger and harder muscles. Well, if you knew what my full name is, old man, you'd understand why I began developing them,--I've got a lot more too that you can't see,--when I first began going to school.”
”What is your other names?” inquired the sailor curiously.
”Algernon Adonis,” said Percival.
The sailor was silent for a moment, thinking of the proper thing to say.
Then he said:
”You're dead right. It takes a heap of muscle to pertect a name like that.”
Three women stopped in front of the two men. Percival kept his eyes lowered.
”Why,--why, Auntie,--I know him,” fell from the lips of one of the trio.
There was not only surprise in her voice but a trace of awe as well.
The swabber looked up quickly. He found himself gazing straight into the eyes of the speaker. Her lips were parted, her head was bent slightly forward, her eyes expressed utter incredulity and bewilderment. Her companion, an elderly lady, and a bespectacled young woman who carried an arm-load of steamer-rugs, stared not at him but at the girl who had delivered this startling announcement.
”I mean I,--that is, I may be mistaken,” stammered the latter, suddenly averting her eyes. A wave of crimson swept over her face.
”Undoubtedly,” exclaimed the elderly lady with great positiveness.
Turning to inspect the object under discussion, she sustained a shock that caused her to stiffen and draw in her breath quickly.
Percival was smiling in a most friendly and encouraging manner. He went farther, and lifted his disreputable white canvas hat.
”Oh, goodness!” exclaimed the young lady in a sort of panic. ”Are you--is it really you, Mr. Percival?”