At this juncture George appeared, and in obedience to Sir Reginald’s instructions, conducted the new guest to a vacant cabin, indicated to him the whereabouts of the bathrooms, and laid out one of Sir Reginald’s blue serge suits for him, together with such other necessaries as the exigencies of his condition demanded.
“What an extraordinary creature!” exclaimed Lady Olivia, with a laugh, as soon as the man was safely out of earshot.
“A distinctly queer fish,” commented Lethbridge.
“Very much so,” agreed Sir Reginald. “Yet, no doubt, a very worthy fellow in his own peculiar way. It would not surprise me if we find his conversation rather entertaining. But, all the same, I shall be glad of a decent opportunity to trans-ship him. And now, what about those pearls? Are we to take him with us to the island, and let him see what we are about; give the secret away to him, in fact?”
“I am afraid that we shall be obliged to take him with us,” observed Mildmay, “unless, indeed, something comes along between now and then, into which we can transfer him. But we need not give away the secret of the position of the island, I think. These Yankees are very inquisitive and very cute; but I can work a traverse that will effectually puzzle him, I think.”
“How?” inquired Sir Reginald.
“Simply by steering one course during the day, when he is up and about, and another course at night—a true course for the island—after he has turned in.”
“Then we had better do that,” said Sir Reginald. “The secret of the position of this pearl-island is von Schalckenberg’s, we must remember, and the fact that he is kindly permitting us to share in and profit by his knowledge ought to make us especially careful not to betray that knowledge to a total stranger who, for aught that we know to the contrary, might perhaps return to the spot and clear every oyster off it.”
“Yes,” concurred the professor, “that is so, my friend; what you say is very true. At the same time we must remember that this poor man has just met with what, to him, is no doubt a very heavy loss. I think, therefore, that we must contrive to fish up for him a small parcel of pearls of sufficient value to recoup him his loss.”