Even at this late hour the clamor of traffic came up to them, and the variegated lights of the flashing signs revolved, flashed, and receded and flashed again with all the colors of a kaleidoscope. But the steady light of the lamp on the table revealed Faunce’s face, its wasted look, the dark rings under the somber eyes, the drawn lines about the tight lips, the threads of white in the thick, dark hair that still curled slightly on the temples. The doctor’s practised eye traveled lower and rested on the lean, blue-veined hand that held the cigar. It was unsteady; even the fingers twitched occasionally.
They had been talking, ever since Dr. Gerry’s entrance, of the expedition. Faunce threw into what he said of it a show of force and even of enthusiasm, and the doctor had listened without showing that his own thoughts recurred persistently to that night long ago when this man had confessed to him in the old office at home. In his heart he pitied Faunce, as he noticed the feverish eagerness with which he talked of the new ship and his own plans.
“I’ve got one thing pretty well shaped in my mind,” Faunce said. “The last time I couldn’t have a free hand, of course, and I always thought some of our mistakes could have been avoided. But Overton wouldn’t yield; he has the kind of obstinacy that won’t give up.” He paused long enough to light another cigar, and then went on: “I’ve been pestered by some of the old men. I didn’t want them, but there’s one——” He stopped abruptly, began to pull at his cigar, and seemed embarrassed.
“Well, there’s one——”
Gerry gave him a keen glance. A dull red mounted in the white face, and Faunce frowned.
“He knows, or thinks he knows, something about the other expedition, and suspects that I can’t afford to risk his telling it.”
“I thought, at one time, that you dreaded the secret; yet you’ve let Overton keep back the truth. You’re up to your neck in his debt.”
Faunce leaned forward in his chair, his shoulders bent like an old man’s, and his clasped hands hanging between his knees.
“I feel the same way now, but we agreed to keep it quiet—there didn’t seem to be any other way.”
“And he gave up the command to you, too. It seems to me you’re getting a good deal more out of it than he is—on the face of it, at least.”