t go upon the trial trip of the Sea Foam. He asked a hundred
questions about the new yacht, and it was plain that he did not care to
resume the conversation with his visitor, who walked nervously about the
room, apparently vexed at the interruption, and dissatisfied thus far
with the result of his interview with the captain.

What would have appeared to be true to an observer was actually so. The
visitor was one Jacob Hasbrook, from a neighboring town, and his
reputation for honesty and fair dealings was not the best in the world.
Captain Patterdale held his note, without security, for thirteen hundred
and fifty dollars. Hasbrook had property, but his creditors were never
sure of him till they were paid. At the present interview he had
astonished Captain Patterdale by paying the note in full, with interest,
on the day it became due. But it was soon clear enough to the rich man
that the payment was only a "blind" to induce him to embark in a
doubtful speculation with Hasbrook. The nature and immense profits of
the enterprise had been eloquently set forth by the visitor, and his own
capacity to manage it enlarged upon; but the nabob, who had made his
fortune by hard work, was utterly wanting in enthusiasm. He had received
the money in payment of his note, which he had expected to lose, or to
obtain only after resorting to legal measures, and he was fully
determined to have nothing more to do with the man. He had said all this
as mildly as he could; but Hasbrook was persistent, and probably felt
that in paying an honest debt he had thrown away thirteen hundred and
fifty dollars.

He would not go, though Captain Patterdale gave him sufficient excuse
for doing so, or even for cutting his acquaintance. The rich man
continued to talk with Don John, to the intense disgust of the
speculator, who stood looking at a tin box, painted green, which lay on
a chair. Perhaps he looked upon this box as the grave of his hopes; for
it contained the money he had just paid to the captain--the wasted
money, because the rich man would not embark with him in his brilliant
enterprise, though he had taken so much pains, and parted with so much
money, to prove that he was an honest man. He appeared to be interested
in the box, and he looked at it all the time, with only an impatient
glance occasionally at the nabob, who appeared to be trifling with his
bright hopes. The tin chest was about nine inches each way, and
contained the private papers an