Markham looked after him with a puzzled expression. He did not know what the man meant to convey by his nods and his becks and his wreathed smiles. But just at this moment Mr. Harwood came up; he had of course previously made the acquaintance of Markham.
“I suppose we shall soon be losing you?” said Harwood, offering him a cigar. “You said, I think, that you would be leaving us at St. Helena?”
“Yes, I leave at St. Helena, and we shall be there in a few days. You see, I am now nearly as strong as ever, thanks to Campion, and it is important for me to get to England at once.”
“No doubt,” said Harwood; “your relatives will be very anxious if they hear of the loss of the vessel you were in.”
Markham gave a little laugh, as he said, “I have no relatives; and as for friends—well, I suppose I shall have a number now.”
“Now?”
“Yes; the fact is I was on my way home from Australia to take up a certain property which my father left to me in England. He died six months ago, and the solicitors for the estate sent me out a considerable sum of money in case I should need it in Australia—this order for four hundred pounds is what remains of it.”
“I can now easily understand your desire to be at home and settled down,” said Harwood.
“I don't mean to settle down,” replied Markham. “There are a good many places to be seen in the world, small as it is.”
“A man who has knocked about in the Colonies is generally glad to settle down at home,” remarked Harwood.