Had a bombshell fallen through the skylight of the saloon and settled
itself in the centre of the table, it could scarcely have caused
greater consternation than did Maas's simple remark. Browne felt that
his face was visibly paling, and that guilt must be written on every
inch of it. As for Jimmy, his mouth opened and shut like that of an
expiring fish. He could scarcely believe he had heard aright. He had
certainly once in an idle moment joked in the fashion Maas had
attributed to him; but what had induced the latter to remember and to
bring it up now, of all times, when their nerves were so tightly
stretched? Maas's face, however, was all innocence. He seemed not to
have noticed the amazement he had caused, but ate his caviare with the
air of a man who had said something worthy, the point of which had
fallen a trifle flat. It was not until the meal was over, and they had
ascended to the deck once more, that Browne found an opportunity of
having a few words with Jimmy.
"What on earth did he mean by that?" he asked. "Do you think he can
have heard anything? Or do you think he only suspects?"
"Neither," said Jimmy. "I'll tell you what I think it was; it was a
perfectly simple remark, which by sheer ill-luck just happened to touch
us in the wrong place. It was, as the shooters say, an unintentional
bull's-eye. But, by Jove! I must confess that it made me feel pretty
bad 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 this
way: if the man had known anything he most certainly would not have
said 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 he
had kept silence, then we might have thought otherwise; as it is, I am
positive we need not be afraid."
As if to reassure them, Maas said nothing further on the subject. He
was full of good-humour, absorbed the sunshine like a Neapolitan, and
seemed to enjoy every hour he lived. He also did his best to make the
others do likewise. He talked upon every conceivable subject, and did
not feel in the least annoyed when the others appeared occupied. They
passed Plymouth soon after twelve next day, and said good-bye to Old
England shortly afterwards. How little those on board guessed what was
to happen before they could see her shores again? Five days later they
were at Gibraltar, anchored in the harbour beneath the shadow of the
batteries. Though he grudged every minute, and though he had seen the
Rock a dozen times before, Browne accompanied them ashore, explored the
Galleries, and lunched at the Officers' Mess.
"What rum beggars we are, to be sure!" said young Bramthwaite, of the
43rd Midlandshire, to Browne, as they lit their cigars afterwards.
"Here are you, posting off for the East, and as anxious as you can be
to turn your back on Old England; while I, poor beggar, am quartered
here, and am longing to get home with all my might and main. Do you
think, if I had your chance, I would go abroad? Not I."
"Circumstances alter cases," returned Browne. "If you were in my place
you would want to be out of England. You should just have seen London
as we left. Fogs, sleet, snow, drizzle, day after day, while here you
are wrapped in continual sunshine. I don't see that you have much to
grumble at."
"Don't you?" said his friend. "Well, I do. Let us take my own case
again. I am just up from a baddish attack of Rock-fever. I feel as
weak as a cat--not fit for anything. And what good does it do me? I
don't even have the luck to be properly ill, so that I could compel
them to invalid me. And, to make matters worse, my brother writes that
they are having the most ripping hunting in the shires; from his
letters I gather that the pheasants have never been better; and, with
it all, here I am, like the Johnny in the heathen mythology, chained to
this rock, and unable to get away."
Browne consoled him to the best of his ability, and shortly afterwards
collected his party and returned to the yacht. The work of coaling was
completed, and Captain Mason, who resembled a badly blacked Christy
Minstrel, was ready to start as soon as his owner desired. Browne,
nothing loath, gave the order, and accordingly they steamed out of the
harbour, past the Rock, and were in blue seas once more. They would
not touch anywhere again until they reached Port Said.
That night on deck Browne was lamenting the fact that the yacht did not
travel 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? You
have a beautiful vessel, your cook is a genius, and your wines are
perfect. If I had your money, do you know what I would do? I would
sail up and down the Mediterranean at this time of the year for months
on end."
"I don't think you would," replied Browne. "In the meantime, what I
want is to get to Japan."
"I presume your _fiancee_ is to meet you there?" said Maas. "I can
quite understand your haste now."
There was a silence for a few moments, and then Maas added, as if the
idea 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 were
too precious to be breathed aloud. "I do not think you have ever met
her."
"Now I come to think of it, I believe I have," Maas responded. "At
least, I am not acquainted with her personally, but I have met some one
who knows her fairly well."
"Indeed!" said Browne, in some astonishment. "And who might that some
one be?"
"You need not be jealous, my dear fellow," Maas continued. "My friend
was a lady, a Miss Corniquet, a French artist. Miss Petrovitch, I
believe, exhibited in the Salon last year, and they met shortly
afterwards. I remember that she informed me that the young lady in
question showed remarkable talent. I am sure, Browne, I congratulate
you heartily."
"Many thanks," remarked the other; and so the matter dropped for the
time being.
Port Said and the work of coaling being things of the past, they
proceeded through the Suez Canal and down the Red Sea; coaled once more
at Aden, and later on at Colombo. By the time they reached Singapore,
Browne's impatience could scarcely be controlled. With every day an
increased nervousness came over him. At last they were only a few
hours' steam from Hong-kong. It was there that Browne was to interview
the famous Johann Schmidt, of whom Herr Sauber had spoken to him in
Paris. What the result of that interview would be he could only
conjecture. He wanted to get it over in order that he might have his
plans cut and dried by the time they reached Japan, where Katharine and
Madame Bernstein must now be. If all went well, he would soon join
them 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 the
crowded harbour of Victoria. Once at anchor, the steam-launch was
slung overboard and brought alongside, Browne and his friends took
their places in her, and she forthwith made her way to the shore. None
of the men had seen the wonderful city, they were now visiting, before,
so that all its marvels, its wealth, and its extraordinary mixture of
races were new to them. Though they had encountered him in his
American hybrid condition, it was the first time they had been brought
into actual contact with their marvellous Yellow Brother, who in
Hong-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 inquired
in what direction they should proceed in order to reach the Club. He
pointed 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 they
reached the place in question. Browne had a letter of introduction to
one of the members, given to him in London, and he was anxious to
present it to him in order to learn something, if possible, of Johann
Schmidt before going in search of him. Leaving his two friends
outside, he entered the Club and inquired for the gentleman in
question. The servant who received him informed him that the member
was not at the time in the building.
"Can you tell me his address?" said Browne. "It's just possible I may
find him at his office."
The man furnished him with what he wanted, and showed him how he could
reach it. Rejoining his companions, Browne proceeded down the street,
passed the Law Courts, and went in the direction of the Barracks. At
last he reached the block of buildings of which he was in search. The
name of the man he wanted was to be seen on a brass plate upon the
door. He entered, and accosting a white-clad Englishman in an enormous
solar topee, whom he found there, inquired if he could tell whether his
friend was at home.
"I believe he is," the man replied. "At any rate, if you will wait a
moment I'll soon find out." Leaving them, he departed down the
passage, to return presently with the information that the person they
wanted to see was in his office.
Foote and Maas remained in the street, while Browne entered a cool and
airy room at the farther end of the passage. Here, seated at an
office-table, was another white-clad Englishman. He had a cigar in his
mouth, and possessed a handsome face and a close-cropped beard.
"Mr. ----?" said Browne, after he had thanked his conductor for his
courtesy.
"That is my name," the gentleman replied. "What can I have the
pleasure of doing for you?"
"I have a letter of introduction to you," said Browne, producing the
document 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 I
was home three years ago he was awfully kind to me. So you are a
friend of his? Pray forgive my not having come out to greet you. Come
and 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 an
English 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. We
left London on the 7th of last month."
The man behind the table opened his eyes in surprise. Gentlemen who
travelled as far as Hong-kong in their own steam-yachts, were few and
far between, and had to be treated with proper respect. He accordingly
found an opportunity of opening the letter of introduction. Had Browne
been watching his face, he would have seen the expression of
astonishment that spread over it, as he realized that his visitor was
no less a person than the fabulously wealthy John Grantham Browne, of
whose 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 he
had somewhat recovered from his astonishment. "While you are here you
must let me do the honours of Hong-kong, such as they are. Of course I
can put you up at the Club, if that's any use to you, and show you all
there is to be seen, though I fear it will bore you fearfully after
London. How long are you staying?"
"Well," answered Browne, "I'm afraid I shall not be able to remain very
long on the outward voyage. I should not have called here at all, but
that I had some rather important business to transact. I'm on my way
to Japan."
"Indeed!" exclaimed the other. "Well, I shall be only too happy if you
will let me help you in any way I can."
"It's not a very big matter," replied Browne. "All I want to know is
the address of a certain person living in Hong-kong whose name is
Schmidt--Johann Schmidt."
"Johann Schmidt?" asked the other. "I am not quite certain that I know
this particular one; there are so many of that name here, and I dare
say a large proportion of them are Johanns. However, I will send some
one to find out; and if you will take tiffin with me at the Club, my
clerks 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 happy
if they would join the party. They accordingly adjourned, and, picking
up Maas and Foote in the street, proceeded to the Club. Tiffin was
almost at an end, when a servant entered and placed a card beside their
host's plate. He glanced at it, and, turning to Browne, he pushed it
towards him.
"If I'm not mistaken, that is the man you want," he remarked. "I think
it only fair to tell you that I know the fellow, and he is rather an
extraordinary character. Between ourselves, he does not bear any too
good a reputation."
"Oh, that doesn't matter to me in the least," responded Browne. "My
business with him is purely of a commercial nature."
After that no more was said on the subject, and, when they rose from
the table, Browne proposed that he should go in search of the man in
question. "I am anxious, if possible, to leave Hong-kong at daybreak
to-morrow morning," he said; and then added, by way of explanation, "I
am due in Japan, and have no time to spare."
"I am sorry to hear that," returned the other. "I had hoped you would
have stayed longer. However, while you are away, your friends had
better remain with me. I will do my best to amuse them."
Browne thereupon rose to take leave. His host accompanied him to the
street, and, having put him in a _ricksha_, told the coolie where he
was to take him.
"I am exceedingly obliged to you for your kindness," said Browne, as he
shook hands. "Will you not let me return it by asking you to dine with
us on board my boat to-night? She is the _Lotus Blossom_. I don't
suppose 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."