The captain’s face exhibited no expression whatever.  Even the eyes failed to express surprise at her startling news.  He faced his visitors without emotion.

“At the examination,” Maud went on, “it will be necessary for him to prove he is from Sangoa.”

No reply.  The captain sat like a statue.

“He must also prove that certain pearls found in his possession came from Sangoa.”

Still no reply.  Maud began to falter and fidget.  Beth was amused.  Patsy was fast growing indignant.  Flo had a queer expression on her pretty face that denoted mischief to such an extent that it alarmed her Aunt Jane.

“I’m afraid,” said Maud, “that unless you come to your master’s assistance, Captain Carg, he will be sent to Austria, a prisoner charged with a serious crime.”

She meant this assertion to be very impressive, but it did not seem to affect the man in the least.  She sighed, and Flo, with a giggle, broke an awkward pause.

“Well, why don’t you get busy.  Maud?” she asked.

“I—­in what way, Flo?” asked her sister, catching at the suggestion implied.

“Captain Carg would make a splendid motion picture actor,” declared the younger Miss Stanton, audaciously.  “He sticks close to his cues, you see, and won’t move till he gets one.  He will answer your questions; yes, he has said he would; but you may prattle until doomsday without effect, so far as he is concerned, unless you finish your speech with an interrogation point.”

Mrs. Montrose gave a gasp of dismay, while Maud flushed painfully.  The captain, however, allowed a gleam of admiration to soften his grim features as he stared fixedly at saucy Flo.  Patsy marked this fleeting change of expression at once and said hastily: 

“I think.  Maud, dear, the captain is waiting to be questioned.”

At this he cast a grateful look in Miss Doyle’s direction and bowed to her.  Maud began to appreciate the peculiar situation and marshalled her questions in orderly array.

“Tell me, please, where is Sangoa?” she began.

“In the South Seas, Miss.”

“Will you give me the latitude and longitude?”

“I cannot.”

“Oh, you mean that you will not?”

“I have been commanded to forget the latitude and longitude of Sangoa.”

“But this is folly!” she exclaimed, much annoyed.  “Such absurd reticence may be fatal to Mr. Jones’ interests.”

He made no reply to this and after reflection she tried again.

“What is the nearest land to Sangoa?”

“Toerdal,” said he.

“What is that, an island?”

“Yes.”

“Is it on the maps?  Is it charted?”

“No, Miss.”

She silenced Flo’s aggravating giggle with a frown.

“Tell me, sir,” she continued, “what is the nearest land to Sangoa that is known to the world?”

He smiled faintly as he replied:  “I cannot tell.”