"I can practically answer for my employer; I can't say anything about
Mr. Morland, who has, however, authorised us to appoint."

"The yacht is from Hamburg?" said I.

"I believe so," said he.

"And its destination?"

"That knowledge is quite out of my province," said the squirrel
briefly.

When one came to think of it, it was almost a snub, and I had never any
patience for these legal silences. As he shut his jaws he looked a man
who could keep a secret, and knew his own mind. Yet he had been so
easily familiar that I flushed with resentment. Confound these little
professional tricks and solemnities! We were meeting on another ground
than lawyer and client.

"I dare say it will be within the cabin-boy's province to-morrow," said
I, somewhat sharply.

"Very likely," he assented, and Holgate, who had turned at my tone,
exchanged a glance with him.

"Mr. Pye is fond of keeping his own counsel," said the third officer in
his slow voice, "and I'm not sure he isn't right, being a lawyer."

"But he isn't a lawyer here," I protested.

Pye smiled. "No; I'm not," he said, "and please don't remind me of it";
at which we all laughed and grew friendly again. "Well, this is a funny
sort of tea for me," said the clerk presently. "I generally patronise
the A.B.C.," and he rose to go.

Holgate did not move, but sat staring at the fire, which shone on his
broad placid face. "I knew a man once," he observed, "who kept his own
counsel."

"I hope he was a lawyer," said Pye humourously.

"No; he was a steward--the steward of an estate in the North. In the
hills was the wealth of a millionaire; coal, doctor," Holgate looked at
me. "And he kept his counsel and held his tongue."

"With what object?" I asked.

"Oh, a little syndicate succeeded in buying it from the owner, and now
it's a seven-figure affair."

His face had no expression of inquiry or of inviting comment. He had
simply stated history, but I was moved to say flippantly,

"What luck!"

"The steward got it?" asked Pye.

"He romped in," said the third officer.

"And will presently be a baronet," said I lightly.

"Stranger things have happened," he remarked, and began to smile. I
fancy we all smiled, though it was not, of course, altogether
humourous.

"Is that called robbery?" asked Holgate.

"I doubt if the law covers it," said Pye. "No; it's quite an innocent
transaction."

"What is robbery?" I asked cynically. "Lawyers may feel their way amid
the i