“That would only add the marvel of heredity to the other marvels,” said Meschines. “Suppose we leave the things we can’t understand, and come to those we can?”
“I have something to say, General Trednoke,” said Freeman.
“I think I have already guessed what it may be, Mr. Freeman,” returned the general, gravely. “Old people have eyes, and hearts too, as well as young ones.”
“Come, Trednoke,” interposed the professor, with a chuckle, “your eyes might not have seen so much, if I hadn’t held the lantern.”
“I love your daughter, and I told her so yesterday morning,” went on Freeman, after a pause. “I meant to tell you on my return. I know I don’t appear desirable as a son-in-law. But I came here on a commission——”
“Meschines and I have talked it all over,” the general said. “When an old West-Pointer and a professor of physics get together, they are sometimes able to put two and two together. And, to tell the truth, I received a letter from a member of your syndicate, who is also an acquaintance of mine, which explained your position. Under the circumstances, I consider your course to have been honorable. You and I were both in search of the same thing, and now, as it appears, nature has sent an earthquake to do our affair for us. No operations of ours could have achieved such a result as last night’s disturbance did; and if that do not prove effective, nothing else will.”
“If it turns out well, I was promised a share in the benefits,” said Freeman, “and that would put me in a rather better condition, from a worldly point of view.”
“After all,” interrupted Meschines, “you found your way to the spot from which the waters broke forth, and may fairly be entitled to the credit of the discovery.—Eh, Trednoke? At any rate, we found nothing.—Yes, I think they’ll have to admit you to partnership, Harvey: and Miriam too,—who, by the way, seems to be the only one who actually penetrated into this cave you speak of. Maybe the removal of the chest pulled the plug out of the bung-hole, as it were: the escape of confined air through such a vent would be apt to draw water along with it. By the way, let’s have a look at this same chest: it looks solid enough to hold something valuable.”
“I would like, in the first place, to hear what General Trednoke has to say about what I have told him,” said Freeman, clearing his throat.
“Miriam,” said the general, “do you wish to be married to this young man?”