He chuckled at that, and tapped on the rail with one knuckle, in a
thoughtful way. "I had thought that Joel and I would go, in the _Nathan
Ross_, and fetch the things away," he said.
"Of course," she exclaimed. "That would be so easy.... I'd love to see
the--pearls...."
"Easy? That was my own thought," he agreed. Something in his tone
prompted her question.
"Why--isn't it?"
"Joel objects," he said drily.
"He--won't. But why? I don't understand. Why?"