Topham hesitated. “No!” he answered, at last. “I haven’t lost them. But I became a little alarmed about their safety and so I put them into an envelope and addressed them to John Smith in care of the embassy here. I carried a dummy in my pocket. The purser said they would reach here about as soon as I did, and unless I am mistaken they are in that envelope close to your hand on the table there. Allow me!”
The navy officer reached over and picked up an envelope. He opened it and took out a packet which he handed to Rutile.
“Take your instructions,” he said.
Rutile threw himself back in his chair. “Well! I’m d—d!” he observed.
“Very likely!”
“But—but why did you— What happened to—”
“Nothing! Nothing at all! There were some slight incidents—nothing of any importance.”
“Oh! Nothing of any importance. Humph!” Rutile’s tones were sarcastic; but he understood that for some reason Topham did not wish to speak frankly, and so he proceeded cautiously.
“Er—voyage quite pleasant, I suppose?” he questioned.
Topham laughed ruefully. “Oh! Yes,” he answered, slowly. “Yes! Very pleasant. Delightful, in fact! But, confound it, old man! Do you know, I was seasick? Think of it! Seasick! Why, I haven’t been seasick for ten years—not since my maiden cruise in Academy days. But I got it this time good and proper!”