“Several years ago I made a long voyage in a sailing-ship on account of my health, Captain O’Shea, and we touched at Trinadaro to get turtles and fresh water. It was then that I conceived the idea of taking possession of the island as an independent principality. Although it has a most forbidding aspect from seaward, there is an inland plateau fit for cultivation and settlement. It contains the ruined stone walls of an ancient town founded by the early Portuguese navigators. And it is well to remember,” concluded the monarch of Trinadaro with a whimsical smile, “that available domains are so scarce that one should not be too particular. Trinadaro appears to have been overlooked.”
“’Tis a rule that the Christian nations will steal any territory that is not nailed down,” was the dubious comment of O’Shea. “They must have a poor opinion of Trinadaro, but, as ye say, ’tis about the only chance that is left for a king to work at his trade with a brand-new sign over the door.”
Johnny Kent spent most his time down river among the London docks. Wherever sea-going steamers were for sale or charter his bulky figure might have been seen trudging from deck to engine-room.
At length, with the royal approval, O’Shea had the purchase papers made out for the fine steamer Tarlington, which was berthed in a basin of the East India Docks. She was a modern, well-equipped freighter of four thousand tons which had been in the Australian trade and could be fitted for sea at a few days’ notice. The transfer of ownership was given no needless publicity. George Huntley attended to that. He had another interview with his friend, the barrister, who hinted at forthcoming events which gravely threatened the peace and welfare of Osmond I and the kingdom of Trinadaro.
O’Shea and Johnny Kent discussed this latest information at supper in the Jolly Mermaid tavern with a platter of fried sole between them.
“’Tis this way,” explained O’Shea. “There is no doubt at all that this grand king of ours will figure in the lunacy proceedings that we heard was in the wind. His relatives are getting greedier and more worried every day. And until the matter is decided one way or another they will use every means the law allows to head him off from spending the good money that belongs to him.”
“And how can they stop him from scatterin’ his coin for these wise and benevolent purposes of his?” demanded the engineer.
“Well, George Huntley says the law will permit them to clap some kind of a restrainin’ order on the ship and hold her in the dock with the judges’ officers aboard till the proceedings are over. And they can serve the same kind of documents on King Osmond to prevent his chasing himself beyond the jurisdiction of the court.”
“But all this infernal shindy can’t be started unless there’s proof positive that His Majesty intends to fly the coop, Cap’n Mike.”
“Right you are, Johnny, you old sea-lawyer. They can’t bother the king until he is actually on board and the ship is cleared, so the barrister lad tells George.”