David gazed at the building with interest, as though now seeing it for the first time.
"Looks to me like a barn," he said at length. "Same time it might be a church, though I don't reckon it is."
"Isn't it a lobster factory?"
"They might make lobsters in it, but I don't think they does. Mebbe that young man on the wharf could tell ye. He looks knowing."
Disgusted at this exhibition of stupidity, and muttering something about a chuckle-headed idiot, the officer motioned for his launch to move ahead, and, in another minute, it lay alongside the wharf.
"Is this the Pretty Harbour lobster factory?" demanded the officer as he stepped ashore.
"I believe it was formerly used as a lobster cannery," replied Cabot, guardedly, "but no business of the kind is being carried on here at present."
"It is owned by the family of the late William Baldwin, is it not?"
"No, sir."
"Who then does own the property?"