The boy passed his hand wearily across his forehead and, rising from his seat, took a few nervous steps up and down the room.  Then, pausing, he asked abruptly: 

“Are you still inclined to be my champion, Miss Stanton?”

“If I can be of any help,” she replied, simply.

“Then I wish you would visit the yacht, make the acquaintance of Captain Carg and tell him of the trouble I am in.  Will you?”

“With pleasure.  That is—­I’ll be glad to do your errand.”

“I’ll give you a letter to him,” he continued, and turning to the attendant he asked for writing material, which was promptly furnished him.  At the table he wrote a brief note and enclosed it in an envelope which he handed to Maud.

“You will find the captain a splendid old fellow,” said he.

“Will he answer any questions I may ask him?” she demanded.

“That will depend upon your questions,” he answered evasively.  “Carg is considered a bit taciturn, I believe, but he has my best interests at heart and you will find him ready to serve me in any possible way.”

“Is there any objection to my going with Maud?” asked Patsy.  “I’d like to visit that yacht; it looks so beautiful from a distance.”

“You may all go, if you wish,” said he.  “It might be well for Mr. Merrick to meet Captain Carg, who would prefer, I am sure, to discuss so delicate a matter as my arrest with a man.  Not that he is ungallant, but with a man such as Mr. Merrick he would be more at his ease.  Carg is a sailor, rather blunt and rugged, both in speech and demeanor, but wholly devoted to me because I am at present the Jones of Sangoa.”

“I’ll accompany the girls, of course,” said Uncle John; “and I think we ought not to delay in seeing your man.  Colby says you may be called for examination at any time.”

“There is one more question I want to ask,” announced Maud as they rose to go.  “On what date did you reach New York, after landing at San Francisco?”

“Why, it must have been some time in last January.  I know it was soon after Christmas, which I passed in Chicago.”

“Is that as near as you can recollect the date?”

“Yes, at short notice.”

“Then perhaps you can tell me the date you took possession of the Continental Film Company by entering the stockholders’ meeting and ejecting yourself president?”

He seemed surprised at her information and the question drew from him an odd laugh.

“How did you learn about that incident?” he asked.

“Goldstein told Mr. Merrick.  He said it was a coup d’etat.”

The boy laughed again.

“It was really funny,” said he.  “Old Bingley, the last president, had no inkling that I controlled the stock.  He was so sure of being reelected that he had a camera-man on hand to make a motion picture of the scene where all would hail him as the chief.  The picture was taken, but it didn’t interest Bingley any, for it showed the consternation on his face, and the faces of his favored coterie, when I rose and calmly voted him out of office with the majority of the stock.”