There was something sinister in silence under
such a loss, and the silence was sustained for hours during which
Mackenzie never reappeared. But he was abroad during the
luncheon-hour--he was in our cabin! I had left my book in
Raffles's berth, and in taking it after lunch I touched the
quilt. It was warm from the recent pressure of flesh and blood,
and on an instinct I sprang to the ventilator; as I opened it the
ventilator opposite was closed with a snap.
I waylaid Raffles. "All right! Let him find the pearl."
"Have you dumped it overboard?"
"That's a question I shan't condescend to answer."
He turned on his heel, and at subsequent intervals I saw him
making the most of his last afternoon with the inevitable Miss
Werner. I remember that she looked both cool and smart in quite
a simple affair of brown holland, which toned well with her
complexion, and was cleverly relieved with touches of scarlet. I
quite admired her that afternoon, for her eyes were really very
good, and so were her teeth, yet I had never admired her more
directly in my own despite. For I passed them again and again in
order to get a word with Raffles, to tell him I knew there was
danger in the wind; but he would not so much as catch my eye. So
at last I gave it up. And I saw him next in the captain's cabin.
They had summoned him first; he had gone in smiling; and smiling
I found him when they summoned me.
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