“I’m cured of lots of things, Trude. I wanted something different but I didn’t want all this to happen! You see I made Lavender and Mart believe it was diamonds Jed Starrow was hiding when it was probably only a case of rum—”
Suddenly Trude straightened. “I almost forgot. A boy came here and said a Captain Davies wanted you to come down to Rockman’s wharf as soon as you could. That was two hours ago. You see it is nearly noon now. You’d better dress quickly and I’ll go out and fix you some breakfast.”
Sidney obeyed reluctantly. In her mingled remorse and humiliation she shrank from facing the world. She was not even curious as to why Cap’n Phin wanted to see her.
By the time she had dressed Trude had a poached egg and a glass of milk ready for her. Miss Letty was with Lavender and Aunt Achsa had gone to bed.
Sidney begged so hard that Trude accompany her to Rockman’s that Trude put on her hat and went with her. And poor Sidney needed Trude’s support for Sunset Lane was thronged with curious men and women; as they walked along the waterfront fishermen and tourists and boys and girls stared and nodded and Sidney’s sensitive soul mistook their obvious interest for ridicule. She walked with lowered eyes lest she encounter Mrs. Calkins or Pola’s mother.
Cap’n Phin was waiting outside the door of the shed on Rockman’s wharf. He nodded to Sidney and Trude and beckoned them inside. At any other time, in any other state of mind, Sidney would have thrilled to his air of mystery.
Four men sat in wooden chairs tipped at various angles and on the floor before them stood the wooden box from the Arabella. The men nodded and smiled at Sidney and brought their chairs to the floor as though to attention.
Cap’n Davies solemnly motioned Sidney and Trude to two vacant chairs and then cleared his throat.
“I cal’late, Miss Sidney, that you’ve a sort o’ interest in this cargo we brought in on the Sally so we stood by ’til you hove in sight. Now, mebbe it’s what we think it is and mebbe it isn’t. Si, give a hand and unload.”
One of the men knelt down by the box and proceeded to open it with a hammer and a chisel. The others leaned forward with interest. Sidney held her breath.