"Everywhere," agreed Dom Corria blandly. Carmela"s memory was not quite of the hereditary order. She had forgotten, for three whole days, that the letter containing the receipt was in her pocket.
When c.o.ke was p.r.o.nounced fit for comfortable travel, David Verity and d.i.c.key Bulmer conveyed him home. They took with them drafts on a London bank for amounts that satisfied every sort of claim for the sinking of the _Andromeda_. Judged by the compensation given to the vessel"s survivors, there could be no doubt that the dependants of the men who lost their lives would be well provided for. Even Watts vowed that the President had behaved reel "andsome, and, as a token of regeneration, swore that never another drop o" sperrits would cross his lips. Wines and beers, of course, were light refreshments of a different order. Schmidt, too, sublimely heedless of the diplomatic storm he had caused, seemed to be contented. He taught Watts "_Es gibt nur eine Kaiser Stadt_," and Watts taught him the famous chanty of the _Alice_ brig and her marooned crew. But the latter effusion was rehea.r.s.ed far from c.o.ke"s deck-chair, because the captain of the mail steamer said that although he liked c.o.ke personally, some of the lady pa.s.sengers might complain.
At odd moments David and d.i.c.key Bulmer discussed the partnership. The young people would be home in two months, and then Philip was to come into the business.
"We"re growing old, David," said d.i.c.key. "I"ve got plenty of money, an" you"ll "ave a tidy bit now, but there"s one thing neether of us can buy, and that"s youth."
"I don"t want to be young again," said David, "but I"d like to go back just a year or so--no more.
"Why?"
"Well, there"s bin times w"en--w"en I"d "ave acted different. Wot do you say, Jimmie?"
c.o.ke, thus appealed to, glowered at his employer.
"Say!" he growled. "I say nothink. I know you, David."
Philip and Iris attended Carmela"s wedding during their honeymoon. The cathedral at Rio de Janeiro was packed, and Iris was quite inconspicuous among the many richly-attired ladies who graced the ceremony by their presence. Nevertheless, Colonel Salvador San Benavides favored her with a peculiar smile as he led his bride down the central aisle.
She laughed, blushed, and looked at her husband.
"Yes, I saw him," he whispered. "But I never feared him. It was you that made me sit up. By the way, old girl, let us cut out the reception. I want to call at the bank, and at a shop in the Rua Grande. You will be interested."
Well, being a good and loving wife, she was interested deeply. Ten thousand pounds was Dom Corria"s financial estimate of the services rendered by Philip, and Iris was absolutely dumfounded by the total in milreis. But her voice came back when Philip took her to a jeweler"s, and the man produced a gold cross on which blazed four glorious diamonds. Dom Corria had given her a necklace many times more valuable; but this----
"For remembrance!" said Philip.
"Oh, my dear, my dear!" she murmured, and her eyes grew moist.
THE END