“You really intend to go to the Congo?” Lady Ethel asked quickly.
“Yes, and shall start as soon as possible. The Heron is at Summers and Payne’s yard, and we will go there and find out Captain Samson’s address.”
An hour later they were in the house of the captain of Gaunt’s yacht, and Lady Mildred at once came to the point.
“Captain, how soon can the Heron start on a long voyage?” she asked.
“A matter of a fortnight, my lady. The engineer is tinkering with his turbines and has got ’em to pieces,” Captain Samson replied.
“What is the shortest time, working night and day?” she insisted.
“It might be managed in a week, my lady,” the captain answered reflectively.
“It must be quicker than that, captain. We will sail on Friday next. Tell the steward to lay in stores for a long voyage, and the bunkers must be filled up.”
“May I ask where we are going, my lady?”
“First of all to the Canary Islands. See the engineer and have the work started at once. I shall be at the Station Hotel on Thursday night, and I shall expect you there. Good-bye, captain.”