“Why—ah—yes,” he admitted. “I have heard that he has bought—ah—some.”
“Um-hm. Who told you; Martha?”
“Why—why—really, Captain, I don't know that I ought—You'll pardon me, but—”
“Been tryin' to buy Martha's, has he?”
Galusha sighed. “Have you noticed,” he suggested, “what a remarkable view one gets from this point? The village and the bay in front, and, in the rear, the—ah—light and the—ah—rest. Quite remarkable, don't you think so, Captain?”
Captain Jethro looked gravely at the view.
“Raish been to see Martha about buyin' her stock, has he?” he asked.
Galusha rubbed his chin. “I have often wondered,” he said, “why no summer cottage has been built just here. The spot would seem to possess very marked advantages. Very—ah—very much so.”
The light keeper cleared his throat. “Zach said he see Raish comin' out of your gate t'other day,” he said. “Been to see Martha about her shares then, had he?”
“The—ah—proximity to the main road is an advantage in particular,” Galusha continued. “One would be near it and yet, so to speak, secluded from it. Really, a very exceptional spot, Captain Hallett.”