He could have yelled after him to come back, but his men were on deck and in the boat which bore his tyrant away; and in those moments the man seemed to live a life of repentance for having placed himself in the power of such a creature as this. As it was, he could only stand looking at the receding boat in a nonchalant manner, and then turn slowly round, and descend to the cabin.
“What am I to do?” he said to himself. “I must write to him apologetically, and ask for time. No; I can’t do it. I’d sooner suffer anything than be humbled further by the wretched cad!”
He flung himself in an easy-chair, and began to agitate it to and fro, grinding his teeth the while with rage.
“If I could only borrow the money! If I could only get hold of enough to clear myself from this brute, I could—”
He stopped short, and sat staring before him through one of the little open round port windows over the glittering sea, at the Fort, which stood up clearly cut and grey in the vivid sunshine; and as he gazed at the great castellated building, a strange idea came to him, one which made him picture the interior of that study as it appeared to him on the occasion of his entering through the window to find Gartram lying there insensible upon the floor.
“A thousand within seven days,” he muttered to himself, and once more he glanced sharply round to see whether he was overheard.
He rose and paced the little cabin, only a few strides and a turn, but no idea came.
One moment he was for following Gellow, and pleading to him for time, the next the thought seemed too degrading, and he shrank from having to plead and humble himself before the common, insolent man who had him in his power.
“If he would only leave me alone I should soon be in a position to clear myself off, for Gartram is as rich as Croesus.”
As that thought came to him, he saw again the interior of the study and the open safe.