Barron smiled.
“You will give me leave to call at your house?”
“As a gentleman, sir, I can hardly refuse that.”
Barron smiled and bowed.
“I see, sir. I have been too hasty, Admiral Jerrold. I ask you as a favour, if you do carry out your hasty decision, to make some inquiries respecting Mr Barron of Trinidad.”
“I shall, sir, of course,” said the admiral. “You’ll excuse me now; I’m going to join my niece and daughter.”
He left the veranda gallery, puffing heavily at his cigar, while Barron stood watching him.
“Hit or miss?” he muttered. “Hit, I think, and game worth bringing down. She’s cold. Well, naturally, I don’t think I managed it so badly, after all.”
“Oh, here’s uncle,” said Edie half an hour later as she saw the big, burly figure of the old sailor approaching. “Oh, you dear, good old uncle. Come and sit down here, and you can see the colour changing on the ice peaks.”
“No, no, no. Come back, girls, and pack up. We’re off by the first train to-morrow.”