CHAPTER XX
Had a bombshell fallen through the skylight of the saloon and settleditself in the centre of the table, it could scarcely have causedgreater consternation than did Maas's simple remark. Browne felt thathis face was visibly paling, and that guilt must be written on everyinch of it. As for Jimmy, his mouth opened and shut like that of anexpiring fish. He could scarcely believe he had heard aright. He hadcertainly once in an idle moment joked in the fashion Maas hadattributed to him; but what had induced the latter to remember and tobring it up now, of all times, when their nerves were so tightlystretched? Maas's face, however, was all innocence. He seemed not tohave noticed the amazement he had caused, but ate his caviare with theair of a man who had said something worthy, the point of which hadfallen a trifle flat. It was not until the meal was over, and they hadascended to the deck once more, that Browne found an opportunity ofhaving a few words with Jimmy.
"What on earth did he mean by that?" he asked. "Do you think he canhave heard anything? Or do you think he only suspects?"
"Neither," said Jimmy. "I'll tell you what I think it was; it was aperfectly simple remark, which by sheer ill-luck just happened to touchus in the wrong place. It was, as the shooters say, an unintentionalbull's-eye. But, by Jove! I must confess that it made me feel prettybad at the moment."
"Then you think we need not attach any importance to it?"
"I'm quite sure we need not," his friend replied. "Look at it in thisway: if the man had known anything he most certainly would not havesaid anything about it. If we had suspected him of knowing our secret,and had put ourselves out in order to bring him to the point, and hehad kept silence, then we might have thought otherwise; as it is, I ampositive we need not be afraid."
As if to reassure them, Maas said nothing further on the subject. Hewas full of good-humour, absorbed the sunshine like a Neapolitan, andseemed to enjoy every hour he lived. He also did his best to make theothers do likewise. He talked upon every conceivable subject, and didnot feel in the least annoyed when the others appeared occupied. Theypassed Plymouth soon after twelve next day, and said good-bye to OldEngland shortly afterwards. How little those on board guessed what wasto happen before they could see her shores again? Five days later theywere at Gibraltar, anchored in the harbour beneath the shadow of thebatteries. Though he grudged every minute, and though he had seen theRock a dozen times before, Browne accompanied them ashore, explored theGalleries, and lunched at the Officers' Mess.
"What rum beggars we are, to be sure!" said young Bramthwaite, of the43rd Midlandshire, to Browne, as they lit their cigars afterwards."Here are you, posting off for the East, and as anxious as you can beto turn your back on Old England; while I, poor beggar, am quarteredhere, and am longing to get home with all my might and main. Do youthink, if I had your chance, I would go abroad? Not I."
"Circumstances alter cases," returned Browne. "If you were in my placeyou would want to be out of England. You should just have seen Londonas we left. Fogs, sleet, snow, drizzle, day after day, while here youare wrapped in continual sunshine. I don't see that you have much togrumble at."
"Don't you?" said his friend. "Well, I do. Let us take my own caseagain. I am just up from a baddish attack of Rock-fever. I feel asweak as a cat--not fit for anything. And what good does it do me? Idon't even have the luck to be properly ill, so that I could compelthem to invalid me. And, to make matters worse, my brother writes thatthey are having the most ripping hunting in the shires; from hisletters I gather that the pheasants have never been better; and, withit all, here I am, like the Johnny in the heathen mythology, chained tothis rock, and unable to get away."
Browne consoled him to the best of his ability, and shortly afterwardscollected his party and returned to the yacht. The work of coaling wascompleted, and Captain Mason, who resembled a badly blacked ChristyMinstrel, was ready to start as soon as his owner desired. Browne,nothing loath, gave the order, and accordingly they steamed out of theharbour, past the Rock, and were in blue seas once more. They wouldnot touch anywhere again until they reached Port Said.
That night on deck Browne was lamenting the fact that the yacht did nottravel faster than she did.
"My dear fellow," said Maas, "what a hurry you are in, to be sure!Why, this is simply delightful. What more could you wish for? Youhave a beautiful vessel, your cook is a genius, and your wines areperfect. If I had your money, do you know what I would do? I wouldsail up and down the Mediterranean at this time of the year for monthson end."
"I don't think you would," replied Browne. "In the meantime, what Iwant is to get to Japan."
"I presume your _fiancee_ is to meet you there?" said Maas. "I canquite understand your haste now."
There was a silence for a few moments, and then Maas added, as if theidea had just struck him: "By the way, you have never told me her name."
"Her name is Petrovitch," answered Browne softly, as if the name weretoo precious to be breathed aloud. "I do not think you have ever mether."
"Now I come to think of it, I believe I have," Maas responded. "Atleast, I am not acquainted with her personally, but I have met some onewho knows her fairly well."
"Indeed!" said Browne, in some astonishment. "And who might that someone be?"
"You need not be jealous, my dear fellow," Maas continued. "My friendwas a lady, a Miss Corniquet, a French artist. Miss Petrovitch, Ibelieve, exhibited in the Salon last year, and they met shortlyafterwards. I remember that she informed me that the young lady inquestion showed remarkable talent. I am sure, Browne, I congratulateyou heartily."
"Many thanks," remarked the other; and so the matter dropped for thetime being.
Port Said and the work of coaling being things of the past, theyproceeded through the Suez Canal and down the Red Sea; coaled once moreat Aden, and later on at Colombo. By the time they reached Singapore,Browne's impatience could scarcely be controlled. With every day anincreased nervousness came over him. At last they were only a fewhours' steam from Hong-kong. It was there that Browne was to interviewthe famous Johann Schmidt, of whom Herr Sauber had spoken to him inParis. What the result of that interview would be he could onlyconjecture. He wanted to get it over in order that he might have hisplans cut and dried by the time they reached Japan, where Katharine andMadame Bernstein must now be. If all went well, he would soon jointhem there.
At ten o'clock on a lovely morning they entered the Ly-ee-moon Pass,steamed past Green Island, and at length they came in sight of thecrowded harbour of Victoria. Once at anchor, the steam-launch wasslung overboard and brought alongside, Browne and his friends tooktheir places in her, and she forthwith made her way to the shore. Noneof the men had seen the wonderful city, they were now visiting, before,so that all its marvels, its wealth, and its extraordinary mixture ofraces were new to them. Though they had encountered him in hisAmerican hybrid condition, it was the first time they had been broughtinto actual contact with their marvellous Yellow Brother, who inHong-kong may be seen in all the glory of his dirt and sumptuousness.Reaching the Praya, they disembarked, and ascended the steps.Accosting an English inspector of police whom they met, they inquiredin what direction they should proceed in order to reach the Club. Hepointed out the way, and they accordingly set off in search of it.Turning into the Queen's Road, they made their way along it until theyreached the place in question. Browne had a letter of introduction toone of the members, given to him in London, and he was anxious topresent it to him in order to learn something, if possible, of JohannSchmidt before going in search of him. Leaving his two friendsoutside, he entered the Club and inquired for the gentleman inquestion. The servant who received him informed him that the memberwas not at the time in the building.
"Can you tell me his address?" said Browne. "It's just possible I mayfind him at his office."
The man furnished him with what he wanted, and showed him how he couldreach it. Rejoining his companions, Browne proceeded down the street,passed the L
aw Courts, and went in the direction of the Barracks. Atlast he reached the block of buildings of which he was in search. Thename of the man he wanted was to be seen on a brass plate upon thedoor. He entered, and accosting a white-clad Englishman in an enormoussolar topee, whom he found there, inquired if he could tell whether hisfriend was at home.
"I believe he is," the man replied. "At any rate, if you will wait amoment I'll soon find out." Leaving them, he departed down thepassage, to return presently with the information that the person theywanted to see was in his office.
Foote and Maas remained in the street, while Browne entered a cool andairy room at the farther end of the passage. Here, seated at anoffice-table, was another white-clad Englishman. He had a cigar in hismouth, and possessed a handsome face and a close-cropped beard.
"Mr. ----?" said Browne, after he had thanked his conductor for hiscourtesy.
"That is my name," the gentleman replied. "What can I have thepleasure of doing for you?"
"I have a letter of introduction to you," said Browne, producing thedocument in question from his pocket, and handing it across the table."I believe we are common friends of George Pellister?"
"George Pellister!" cried the man. "I should rather think so; when Iwas home three years ago he was awfully kind to me. So you are afriend of his? Pray forgive my not having come out to greet you. Comeand sit down. How long have you been in the island?"
"Only an hour and a half," Browne replied.
"An hour and a half!" the other repeated. "I had no idea there was anEnglish mail-boat in. The P. & O. only left yesterday."
"I didn't come in a mail-boat," said Browne. "I've got my own tub. Weleft London on the 7th of last month."
The man behind the table opened his eyes in surprise. Gentlemen whotravelled as far as Hong-kong in their own steam-yachts, were few andfar between, and had to be treated with proper respect. He accordinglyfound an opportunity of opening the letter of introduction. Had Brownebeen watching his face, he would have seen the expression ofastonishment that spread over it, as he realized that his visitor wasno less a person than the fabulously wealthy John Grantham Browne, ofwhose doings in the social and sporting world he had so often read.
"I am very glad indeed that you have called on me," he said, after hehad somewhat recovered from his astonishment. "While you are here youmust let me do the honours of Hong-kong, such as they are. Of course Ican put you up at the Club, if that's any use to you, and show you allthere is to be seen, though I fear it will bore you fearfully afterLondon. How long are you staying?"
"Well," answered Browne, "I'm afraid I shall not be able to remain verylong on the outward voyage. I should not have called here at all, butthat I had some rather important business to transact. I'm on my wayto Japan."
"Indeed!" exclaimed the other. "Well, I shall be only too happy if youwill let me help you in any way I can."
"It's not a very big matter," replied Browne. "All I want to know isthe address of a certain person living in Hong-kong whose name isSchmidt--Johann Schmidt."
"Johann Schmidt?" asked the other. "I am not quite certain that I knowthis particular one; there are so many of that name here, and I daresay a large proportion of them are Johanns. However, I will send someone to find out; and if you will take tiffin with me at the Club, myclerks shall make inquiries while we are doing so."
Browne thereupon explained that he had two friends travelling with him,with the result that the other replied that he would only be too happyif they would join the party. They accordingly adjourned, and, pickingup Maas and Foote in the street, proceeded to the Club. Tiffin wasalmost at an end, when a servant entered and placed a card beside theirhost's plate. He glanced at it, and, turning to Browne, he pushed ittowards him.
"If I'm not mistaken, that is the man you want," he remarked. "I thinkit only fair to tell you that I know the fellow, and he is rather anextraordinary character. Between ourselves, he does not bear any toogood a reputation."
"Oh, that doesn't matter to me in the least," responded Browne. "Mybusiness with him is purely of a commercial nature."
After that no more was said on the subject, and, when they rose fromthe table, Browne proposed that he should go in search of the man inquestion. "I am anxious, if possible, to leave Hong-kong at daybreakto-morrow morning," he said; and then added, by way of explanation, "Iam due in Japan, and have no time to spare."
"I am sorry to hear that," returned the other. "I had hoped you wouldhave stayed longer. However, while you are away, your friends hadbetter remain with me. I will do my best to amuse them."
Browne thereupon rose to take leave. His host accompanied him to thestreet, and, having put him in a _ricksha_, told the coolie where hewas to take him.
"I am exceedingly obliged to you for your kindness," said Browne, as heshook hands. "Will you not let me return it by asking you to dine withus on board my boat to-night? She is the _Lotus Blossom_. I don'tsuppose you will have much difficulty in finding her."
"I shall be delighted," replied the other. "At what time do you dine?"
"At half-past seven," answered Browne.
"_Au revoir_, then, until half-past seven."
They waved hands to each other, and Browne laid himself back in the_ricksha_, mumbling as he did so, "Now for our friend Johann Schmidt."