Part 13 (1/2)
”With pleasure. What is your business?”
”Of small concern to you, sir, but of immense importance to me. Mr.
Hatteras, I have it in my mind that you do not like me.”
”I hope I have not given you cause to think so. Pray what can have put such a notion into your head?”
I half hoped that he would make some allusion to the telegram he had despatched for me that morning, but he was far too cunning for that. He looked me over and over out of his small ferrety eyes before he replied:
”I cannot tell you why I think so, Mr. Hatteras, but instinct generally makes us aware when we are not quite all we might be to other people.
Forgive me for speaking in this way to you, but you must surely see how much it means to me to be on good terms with friends of my employer's family.”
”You are surely not afraid lest I should prejudice the Duke against you?”
”Not afraid, Mr. Hatteras! I have too much faith in your sense of justice to believe that you would willingly deprive me of my means of livelihood--for of course that is what it would mean in plain English.”
”Then you need have no fear. I have just said good-bye to them. I am going away to-morrow, and it is improbable that I shall ever see either of them again.”
”You are leaving for Australia?”
”Very shortly, I think.”
”I am much obliged to you for the generous way you have treated me. I shall never forget your kindness.”
”Pray don't mention it. Is that all you have to say to me? Then good-evening!”
”Good-evening, Mr. Hatteras.”
He turned back, and I continued my way along the cliff, reflecting on the curious interview I had just pa.s.sed through. If the truth must be known, I was quite at a loss to understand what he meant by it! Why had he asked that question about Australia? Was it only chance that had led him to put it, or was it done designedly, and for some reason connected with that mysterious ”train” mentioned in his telegram?
I was to find out later, and only too thoroughly!
CHAPTER VI
I MEET DR. NIKOLA AGAIN
It is strange with what ease, rapidity, and apparent unconsciousness the average man jumps from crisis to crisis in that strange medley he is accustomed so flippantly to call His Life. It was so in my case. For two days after my return from Bournemouth I was completely immersed in the toils of Hatton Garden, had no thought above the sale of pearls and the fluctuations in the price of sh.e.l.l; yet, notwithstanding all this, the afternoon of the third day found me kicking my heels on the pavement of Trafalgar Square, my mind quite made up, my pa.s.sage booked, and my ticket for Australia stowed away in my waistcoat pocket.
As I stood there the grim, stone faces of the lions above me were somehow seen obscurely, Nelson's monument was equally unregarded, for my thoughts were far away with my mind's eye, following an ocean mail-steamer as she threaded her tortuous way between the Heads and along the placid waters of Sydney Harbour.
So wrapped up was I in the folds of this agreeable reverie, that when I felt a heavy hand upon my shoulder and heard a masculine voice say joyfully in my ear, ”d.i.c.k Hatteras, or I'm a Dutchman,” I started as if I had been shot.
Brief as was the time given me for reflection, it was long enough for that voice to conjure up a complete scene in my mind. The last time I had heard it was on the bridge of the steamer _Yarraman_, lying in the land-locked harbour of Cairns, on the Eastern Queensland coast; a canoeful of darkies were jabbering alongside, and a cargo of bananas was being s.h.i.+pped aboard.
I turned and held out my hand. ”Jim Percival!” I cried, with as much pleasure as astonishment. ”How on earth does it come about that you are here?”
”Arrived three days ago,” the good-looking young fellow replied. ”We're lying in the River just off the West India Docks. The old man kept us at it like galley slaves till I began to think we should never get the cargo out. Been up to the office this morning, coming back saw you standing here looking as if you were thinking of something ten thousand miles away. I tell you I nearly jumped out of my skin with astonishment, thought there couldn't be two men with the same face and build, so smacked you on the back, discovered I was right, and here we are. Now spin your yarn. But stay, let's first find a more convenient place than this.”