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Page 43
"That simply proves what I say. He knows that this treasure once
existed, but not where. Now, it is perfectly logical that some other
man, years ago, might have discovered the same key as we have. He may
have got away with it. The man might have plausibly declared that he
had made the money somewhere. The sum is not so large as to create any
wide comment."
"Ah, my boy, your father had more enthusiasm than that." The admiral
looked reproachful.
"My dear admiral," and Fitzgerald laughed in that light-hearted way of
his, "I would go into the heart of China on a treasure hunt, for the
mere fun of it. Enthusiasm? Nothing would gratify me more than to
strike a shovel into the spot where this treasure, this pot of gold, is
supposed to lie. It will be great sport; nothing like it. I was
merely supposing. I have never heard of, or come into contact with, a
man who has found a hidden treasure. I am putting up these doubts
because we are never sure of anything. Why, Mr. Breitmann knows; isn't
it more fun to find a dollar in an old suit of clothes than to know you
have ten in the suit you are wearing? It's not how much, it's the
finding that gives the pleasure."
"That is true," echoed Breitmann generously. He fingered the papers
with a touch that was almost a caress. "A pity that you will go to the
Arctic instead."
"I am not quite sure that I shall go," replied Fitzgerald. That this
man had deliberately lied to him rendered him indecisive. For the
present he could not do or say anything, but he had a great desire to
be on hand to watch.
"You are not your father's son if you refuse to go with us;" and the
Admiral sent home this charge with fist against palm.
"'Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight!'" parroted the girl drolly. "You
will go, Mr. Fitzgerald."
"Do you really want me to?" cleverly putting the decision with her.
"Yes." There was no coquetry in voice or eye.
"When do you expect to go?" Fitzgerald put this question to the
admiral.
"As soon as we can coal up and provision. Laura, I've just got to
smoke. Will you gentlemen join me?" The two young men declined. "We
can go straight to Funchal in the Madieras and re-coal. With the
club-ensign up nobody will be asking questions. We can telegraph the
_Herald_ whenever we touch a port. Just a pleasure-cruise." The
admiral fingered the Legion of Honor. "And here was Alladin's Lamp
hanging up in my chimney!" He broke in laughter. "By cracky! that man
Donovan knows his business. He's gone without putting back the bricks.
He has mulcted me for two days' work."
"But crossing in the yacht," hesitated Fitzgerald. He wished to sound
this man Breitmann. If he suggested obstacles and difficulties it
would be a confirmation of the telegram and his own singular doubts.
"It is likely to be a rough passage," said Breitmann experimentally.
"He doesn't want me to go." Fitzgerald stroked his chin slyly.
"We have crossed the Atlantic twice in the yacht," Laura affirmed with
a bit of pride; "once in March too, and a heavy sea half the way."
"Enter me as cabin-boy or supercargo," said Fitzgerald. "If you don't
you'll find a stowaway before two days out."
"That's the spirit." The admiral drew strongly on his cigar. He had
really never been so excited since his first sea-engagement. "And it
comes in so pat, Laura. We were going away in a month anyway. Now we
can notify the guests that we've cut down the time two weeks. I tell
you what it is, this will be the greatest cruise I ever laid a course
to."
"Guests?" murmured Fitzgerald, unconsciously poaching on Breitmann's
thought.
"Yes. But they shall know nothing till we land in Corsica. And in a
day or two this fellow would have laid hands on these things and we'd
never been any the wiser."
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