“Never saw him before,” declared Mr. Pembroke coldly.
“That’s odd,” reflected Dave. “If faces are books, and if glances may be read, I should have said that the Frenchman didn’t like our very courteous Englishman.”
The French officer was now passing out of sight.
“I see our launch,” called out Danny Grin.
“I say, Mr. Darrin, by the way,” spoke up the Englishman, “what is your ship?”
“The gunboat ‘Castoga’,” Darrin answered.
“Then, if you don’t mind, I’m going to do myself the honor, some afternoon in the near future, of going out to your ship and calling on you. I find it very dull here in Manila, you know, and I shall be glad to see more of you both.”
“We shall undoubtedly meet at one of the clubs ashore,” Dave smiled back steadily into the other’s eyes. “In that case, I’ll try to introduce you to our commanding officer, and I’ve no doubt that he’ll be glad to extend you a cordial invitation to come aboard.”
A few moments later the launch from the “Castoga” came gliding in at the jetty. Dave and Dan extended their hands to Mr. Pembroke, then stepped aboard the launch, leaving the Englishman to turn away.
Nor had he more than turned his back when Pembroke allowed a very distinct frown to gather on his face.