ud, Captain Mayo," barked Oakum Otie,
in still more resonant manner, to offer apology. "But seeing her, and
remembering last time I laid eyes on her--"

"Shut up!" commanded the master. "I'll take the wheel. Go forward and
clear cable, and stand by for the word!"

He looked behind, in spite of himself, and saw that a motor-tender
had come away from the _Olenia_. It foamed along in the wake of
the schooner. It circled her after it had passed, and kept up those
manouvers until the schooner's anchor was let go. Then the tender came
to the side and stopped. The mate and engineer in her were new men; Mayo
did not know them. The mate tipped respectful salute and stated that Mr.
Marston had sent them to bring Captain Mayo on board the yacht at once.

"My compliments to Mr. Marston. But I am not able to come."

They went away, but returned in a short time, and the mate handed a note
over the rail. It was a curt statement, dictated and typewritten, that
Mr. Marston wished to see Captain Mayo on business connected with
the _Conomo_, and that if Captain Mayo were not able to transact that
business Mr. Marston would be obliged to hunt up some other party who
could do business regarding the _Conomo_. Remembering that he had the
interests of others to consider, Mayo dropped into the tender, sullen,
resentful, wondering what new test of his endurance was to be made, and
feeling peculiarly ill-equipped, in his present condition of courage and
temper, to meet Julius Marston.

The latter had himself under full restraint when they met on the yacht's
quarter-deck, and Mayo was more fully conscious of his own inadequacy.

"Below, if you please, captain." He led the way, even while he uttered
the invitation.

No one was visible in the saloon. In the luxury of that interior the
unkempt visitor seemed especially strange, particularly out of place.

"You will excuse what has seemed to be my hurry in getting you over
here, sir, but I take it that your sailing into this port just now
coincides with the arrival of the Vose crowd in this city to-day."

Mr. Fletcher Fogg first, and now Mr. Fogg's employer, had given advance
information which anticipated Mayo's knowledge. The young man had been
having some special training in dissimulation, and he did not betray any
surprise. He bowed.

"It's better for you to talk with me before you allow them to make a
fool of you. I am prepared to take that steamer off your hands, as
she stands, at a fa