""No, she"s not that sort. She"s different from other girls. She"s had a rotten time ... I can"t tell you.... It would have been different if she was coming home with us. Everything seems against me. No matter ... a chap has to put up with his luck, I suppose."
""You"ll pick up," I suggested, without much brilliance I am afraid. He made no reply, lying with a sort of stern acquiescence in the enigmatic blows of fate.
"And the next day, when the ore was crashing into the holds and the ship lay in a red fog of dust, Jack and I went ash.o.r.e on our business. I remember Mr. Bloom walking to and fro on the bridge deck with the Second Mate, nudging him facetiously as they pa.s.sed the Second, who was rigging his tackle over the bunker, and nodding toward us as we made our way among the ore-trucks and down to the beach. The Second had told me that "the nosey blighter" had been making inquiries about the coal, with sly innuendoes dusted over his sapient remarks. It was a subject to which Mr. Bloom"s lofty conceptions of "professional etiquette" would do full justice. As we climbed the steps which ran up outside Grunbaum"s house, I was wondering to myself if I should be able to redeem my promise to young Siddons. There seemed small likelihood of it unless I took Jack into our confidence. We entered a high stone pa.s.sage through the farther end of which we could see Grunbaum"s orchard and Grunbaum"s five children playing under the trees in the care of a fat Greek woman. We turned to the left into an immense chamber with a cheap desk and office chair in one corner. The whitewashed walls were decorated with oleographs of imaginary Greek steamships, all funnels and bridge, with towering knife-like prows cleaving the Atlantic at terrific speed. There were advertis.e.m.e.nts of Greek and Italian insurance companies, too, and a battered yellow old map of the Cyclades. And standing at the tall windows was a figure in a frock coat squinting through a telescope. He put it down hurriedly as we entered, walked across to the desk, and resting his hand on it, made us a bow. This was Monsieur Nikitos, the lieutenant of the mighty enterprise. I must confess that his pose at that moment was less of the financier than of a world-famous virtuoso at the piano bowing to a tumult of applause.
""This is the Chief Engineer," said Jack. The virtuoso favoured me with a special bow, and waved his hand to a couple of chairs.
""Take a seat, Captain. Take a seat, Mister Chief. Mr. Grunbaum is engaged at the moment. I take the opportunity of mentioning the little matter we discussed yesterday, Captain. I have no doubt you will take shares in our company."
"Jack looked at me, and I regarded Monsieur Nikitos with fresh interest.
He was a most mysterious creature to look at, now we were close to him.
He was quite young, not more than twenty-five, and the black fuzz on his face gave him a singularly dirty appearance. As he sat in his swivel chair with the tails of his dusty frock coat draped over the arms, tapping his large white teeth with his pen and brushing his black hair from his blotchy forehead, he suddenly gave me the impression of a poet trying to think of a rhyme.
""We have decided," I said, and he dropped his hands and inclined his ear, "to think it over." He slumped back in his chair, smiled, and shook his head. Then he straightened up and reaching for a ruler looked critically at it.
""We cannot wait. In affairs of finance one must think quickly, then act--so!" He snapped his thumb and finger. "If not, the chance is gone.
Now I show you. To-day, Captain Macedoine resigns. Yes! To-morrow, _I_ resign. Like that. To-morrow also, Monsieur Spilliazeza, our invaluable manager of works, resigns! To-night, the _Osmanli_ calls for the mails.
We go by the _Osmanli_, our vessel, to Saloniki. We arrive. We take action at once." He waved his arms. "Action! Next week it will be too late. Option taken up, work commenced, contracts awarded, organization complete. It is all here." He tapped his forehead. "I have it complete, in inauguration, here." And he regarded us with a gaze of rapt abstraction in his brilliant black eyes.
"I don"t mind telling you that the chief impression this performance made upon me was that he was a lunatic. Jack was staring solemnly at him. I imagine he began to have doubts of the wisdom of entrusting this creature with real money. And then a bell tinkled, one of a pair of high dark folding doors opened, and I had a glimpse of a great room where an enormously fat man sat in the curve of a vast horseshoe shaped desk. It was only a momentary view, you understand, of the diffused light shed by three tall windows upon a chamber of unusual size. I had an impression of glancing into a museum, a glimpse of a statue, very white and tall with an arm broken off short, gleaming gla.s.s cases of small things that shone like opals and aquamarines, and great bunches of coral like petrified foam. I saw all this as the door stood for a moment, the fezzed head of a little old gentleman looking out and mumbling the word "_Kapitan!_" We stood up. Jack made a movement to go in. Monsieur Nikitos came between us and regarded us as though we were conspirators.
""Monsieur Grunbaum will see the Kapitan," he remarked in a loud voice, and then in a whisper, "Of this--not a word," And he pressed his knuckles to his lips. And then Jack pa.s.sed into the room, the door closed softly, and I was alone with Monsieur Nikitos.
"My feelings at that moment, you know, were mixed. I was astonished.
I was amused. I was indignant. I looked at the frock-coated figure before me with an expression of profound distaste and contempt. He gave me a confidential smile and indicated a chair.
I sat down, looking at the closed folding doors. And as I sat there I became aware that Monsieur Nikitos was indulging in a whispered monologue. I caught the words--man of wide views--great wealth--vast experience--unlimited prospects--unique grasp of detail--necessary in affairs--man of affairs ... and then, in a lower tone--daughter--beauty--happiness--future--efforts redoubled--found fortunes--ideals--cannot express feelings--humble aspirations--many years--ambition--travel....
"I suppose I must have made some sound to indicate my coherent interest in this unlooked-for rigmarole, for he sprang up, and placed himself between me and the folding doors. He bent his head to my ear. He desired to know if I considered my Kapitan reliable. Would he invest? That was the thing. Would he invest? Had he character? Why did he ask? Because he had a design. The Swedish Kapitan who had invested was a single man, a man of no education, I was to understand--no culture. But my Kapitan was a married man. Of course he would settle in Saloniki, that fairest jewel in the Turkish crown. He himself knew a house in a good street--just the thing. He was anxious about this because he himself would shortly become a married man. He sat down abruptly and waved the ruler. As in a dream I sat there listening to his words. I have a notion now that he gave me his whole life history. I recall reference to--early years--great ambitions--great work--frustrated--years of exile--unique qualifications--international journalism--special correspondent--highly commended--friend of liberty--confidential agent, and so on. He had an immense command of rapidly enunciated phrases which were run together and interspersed with melodramatic pauses and gestures. And I said nothing--nothing at all. He ran on, apparently quite satisfied that I had a deep and pa.s.sionate interest in his vapourings. As a matter of fact, I paid very little attention. I was wondering whether it would be worth my while to obtain an interview with the girl, if what he had hinted were true, that her a.s.sistance in her father"s designs was to many this eloquent lieutenant and satisfy his "humble aspirations." And while I wondered I heard harsh words uttered within the folding doors--_confidence in my dispositions_--said a voice of grating power and guttural sound. Monsieur Nikitos looked at me for an instant and waved his ruler. He muttered. He alluded to tyrannical obstinacy--unimaginative autocracy--intolerable domination--and other polysyllabic enormities. The harsh voice went on in an unintelligible rumble, rising again to "post of a secretarial nature--a man of undeserved misfortune--my disgust--effrontery to submit--resignation." I listened, and Monsieur Nikitos, who was gazing at me, gradually a.s.sumed an expression of extreme alarm. He rose and went on tip-toe into the outer hall. He reappeared suddenly with a broad-brimmed felt hat on his head. He muttered some excuses--appointment--return immediately--urgent necessity--apologies--in a moment--and tip-toed away again, leaving me alone.
"I was beginning to think Jack had forgotten all about me when he came out and closed the door behind him. We walked out into the pa.s.sage together, but he made no remark until I asked him if it was all right about the coal. He said yes, it was all right, but what did I think?
That chap Macedoine was a wrong-un, according to Grunbaum. Trying to get control. Grunbaum had sacked him. After fetching his daughter out for him, too. It was true, what Nikitos had told us. They were going all right but because they had to. Grunbaum was in a devil of a rage over it. Had cabled to Paris to send out some more men. Good job he"d had the notion of asking Grunbaum about it, eh? Might have lost our money.
Now he came to think of it, that Greek didn"t look very reliable. Was I coming back on board?
"We paused on the beach, where a few fishing boats were drawn up and the nets lay in the sun drying.
""I don"t think I will," I said. "I guess I"ll take a walk up the cliff over there. When will you pull off to the buoys?"
""Not a minute after five," he returned. "It"s none so safe here at night. Steam ready all the time remember, Fred. Grunbaum was just giving me a friendly warning."
"I started off for a walk up the cliff. The point where the path cut round the corner stood sharp against the sky and led me on. As I gained the beginning of the rise I could look back and down into Grunbaum"s garden where lemon, fig, plum, and almond trees grew thickly above green gra.s.s cut into sectors by paths of white marble flags and with a fountain sending a thin jet into the air. I could see children playing about under the trees, but there were no birds. There were no birds on the island. I realized this perfectly irrelevant fact at that moment, and I became aware of the singular isolation of this man living under the gigantic shadow of the mountain. It gave me a sudden and profound consciousness of his extreme security against the designs o imaginative illusionists. The vast bulk of the man became identified in my mind with the tremendous ma.s.s of rock against which I was leaning. The momentary glimpses into his office, the memory of the bizarre conjunction of ancient statuary with the furniture of business and money-making, the harsh voice reverberating through the lofty chambers, gave me a feeling that I had been a.s.sisting at some incredible theatrical performance. I started off again. I felt I needed a walk. After all, these reflections were but an idle fancy. Jack and I were not likely to risk our small savings in any such wild-cat schemes. Jack"s words about pulling off to the buoys had recalled me to a sense of serious responsibility. One always had that hanging over one while in Ipsilon. Grunbaum, from his secure fastness under the mountain, was familiar with the incalculable treachery of the wind and sea.
"I was soon far above the habitation of men. Above me slanted the ma.s.ses of weathered limestone and marble; below, reduced to the size of a child"s toy, I could see the _Manola_. At intervals I could hear a faint rattle and another cloud of red dust would rise from her deck, like the smoke of a bombardment. Far below me were a tiny group of men at work in a quarry. They seemed to be engaged in some fascinating game. They cl.u.s.tered and broke apart, running here and there, crouching behind boulders, and remaining suddenly still. There would be a dull thump, a jet of smoke, and a few pieces of rock, microscopic to me, would tumble about. And then all the pigmy figures would run out again and begin industriously to peck at these pieces, like ants, and carry them, with tiny staggerings, out of sight. I watched them for a moment and then walked on until I came to the corner where the path curves to the right and eventually confronts the open sea. I was alone with the inaccessible summits and the soft murmur of invisible waves breaking upon half-tide rocks. I was in mid-air with a scene of extraordinary beauty and placidity spread before me. The sea, deep blue save where it shallowed into pale green around the farther promontory, was a mirror upon which the shadows of clouds flickered and pa.s.sed like the moods of an innocent soul. In the distance lay the purple ma.s.ses of other islands, asleep. It was as though I were gazing upon a beautiful and empty world, awaiting the inevitable moment when men should claim the right to destroy its loveliness....
"At intervals along the face of the cliff were tunnels which led through the marble sh.e.l.l of the mountain into the veins of ore. I walked along looking for a place to sit down, stepping from tie to tie of the narrow-gauge track along which the mine trucks were pushed by Grunbaum"s islanders. I suppose the vein had petered out up there.... I don"t know.
One of Grunbaum"s dispositions, perhaps. Anyhow it was deserted. I came to a huge ma.s.s of rock projecting from the face, so that the track swerved outward to clear it. I walked carefully round and stopped suddenly.
"She was sitting there, leaning against the entrance to a working, and looking out across the sea. Without alarm or resentment she turned her head slightly and looked at me, and then bent her gaze once more upon the distance. I hesitated for a moment, doubtful of her mood, and she spoke quietly.
""What is it?" she asked. I went up and stood by her.
""I have a message for you," I remarked, and took out a cigarette. "But I had no idea you were up here. In fact, I dare say I should have gone back on board without giving it to you."
""What is it?" she said again, and this time she looked at me.
""You don"t know, I suppose," I said, "that Siddons--the Third Mate--has had an accident?"
"She looked away and paused before answering.
""I see," she remarked, though what she saw I did not quite comprehend at the moment. It seemed a strange comment to make.
""Oh, come!" I said. "Don"t say you"re not interested."
""How did it happen?" she enquired, looking at her shoe.
"I told her. She turned her foot about as though examining it, her slender hands clasped on her lap. She had an air of being occupied with some problem in which I had no part.
""And the message?" she said at length. I gave her that, too, briefly, and without any colouring of my own. She put one leg over the other, clasping her knee with her hands, and bent forward, looking suddenly at me from under bent brows.
""What can I do?" she demanded in a low tone.
""But don"t you see," I returned. "He"s in love with you."
"She gave a faint shrug of the shoulders and uttered a sound of amus.e.m.e.nt.
""Then you are indifferent?" I asked, annoyed.
""What else can I be?" she said. "Boys always think they are in love. I don"t think much of that sort of love." And she fell silent again, looking at the sea.
""Look here, my dear," I said abruptly, "tell me about it. I"m in the dark. Can"t I help you?"
""No," she said. "You can"t. n.o.body can help me. I"m in a fix."
""But how?" I persisted.
""Do you suppose," she said, slowly, "that n.o.body has been in love with me before I came on your ship? I thought you"d understand, when I told you I had never had any luck. I haven"t. I had no one to tell me. I thought people were kinder, you know--men, I mean. And now all I can do is wait ... wait. Sometimes I wish I was dead, wish I"d never been born!
Before you came up, I was wondering if I couldn"t just jump--finish it all up--no more waiting. And then I found I hadn"t the pluck to do that.
I tried to tell Mrs. Evans once, give her a hint somehow, but she doesn"t understand. She"s safe. She"s got a husband as well as ... no matter. I was going to tell you, one evening, you remember, but I got scared. I didn"t feel sure about you. Oh, I"m sorry, of course, about Mr. Siddons. I liked him, you know. He"s a gentleman. But even gentlemen are very much the same as anybody else."
""But what will you do?" I asked in astonishment.
""I must go with my father," she replied, stonily. "He wants me to be with him. He is not happy here. He is misunderstood. He is going into business with my--with another man. We are going to Saloniki. I dare say I shall do as he wishes. That"s what a daughter should do, isn"t it?" And her eyes flickered toward me again.
"I didn"t answer, and there was a long silence. I had no words of consolation for that solitary soul engaged in the sombre business of waiting. And I understood the trivial role which young Siddons played in her tragic experience. To her we were all pasteboard figures actuated by a heartless and irrelevant destiny. Fate had shut the door upon her with a crash, and she was alone with her griefs in an alien world. I put my arm round her shoulders. She looked at me with hard bright eyes, her red lips firmly set.
""Can I help you?" I whispered. She shook her head. "At least," I went on, "you can write to me, if you were in trouble--ever. I would like you to feel that someone is thinking of you."
""It"s kind of you," she said, with a faint smile, "but _you_ wouldn"t be able to do much. Oh! I know what men are," she added with a hysterical little laugh. "Always thinking of themselves. There"s always that behind everything they do. They don"t mean it, but it"s there, all the time. Even you wouldn"t do anything to make yourself uncomfortable, you know."