Plinny, not understanding in the least, opened wide eyes upon him.  His tone seemed to ask for her pity.

“Yes, yes.  I have sought hard for pleasure and grudged no price for it; but the stuff I bought was all flash and sham—­like this fool’s diamonds—­flash and sham, and the end of it weariness.  Well, there is money left.  You shall take it and endow a hospital if you choose, and that no doubt will increase your happiness and make it thrive.  But the root of the plant lies within you.  Pardon me, ma’am”—­he looked towards Miss Belcher—­“the question sounds an impudent one, I know, but are you not, even for England, a well-to-do lady?”

“I have a trifle more than my neighbours,” owned Miss Belcher.  “But it’s almost more plague than blessing; at least I call it so, sometimes, which is a different thing from being ready to give it up.”

“And you, ma’am?” He turned to Plinny.

“I have enough for my needs, I thank God,” she answered.  “But I have known what it is to be poor.”

“Quite so,” he nodded.  “And yet you have come thousands of miles, you two, in search of treasure!”

At the entrance of Gow’s Gulf we downed sail and took to our paddles again.  The tide helped us against the breeze and within half an hour we came in sight of the schooner lying peacefully at anchor as we had left her.

So, at least, and at first glance, it seemed; but as we drew near, Captain Branscome stood up suddenly, the tiller-lines in his hands.

“Hallo!  Where’s the dinghy?”

It was gone; and—­what was worse—­our repeated hails fetched no answering hail from the ship.  But just as we were beginning to feel seriously alarmed a voice shouted from the opposite shore, and Mr. Rogers came sculling out from the shadow of the woods, working the dinghy towards us with a single paddle overstern.

“Sorry, Captain!” he hailed.  “Two deserters in two days!  Oh, we’re a cheerful team to drive!  But I have my excuse ready.  The fact is—­” Here, catching sight of Dr. Beauregard, Mr. Rogers stopped short.

“I fancy,” said the Doctor, amiably, turning to Captain Branscome, “your friend has not his excuse so ready as he supposed.  Doubtless he’ll impart it to you later on.  Meanwhile, I would suggest that we take him along with us.”

“But where are we going?” asked Captain Branscome.

“To my house.  Ah, it is news to you that I have one?  You supposed, perhaps, that the Lord Proprietor of Mortallone roosted at night in the trees?  But where, in that case, would he stack his wine?  My dear sir, I have a house, and cellarage, to the both of which you shall be made welcome.  Even if you decline my hospitality we have the invalid here to dispose of, and surely you won’t condemn a man of my years to carry him home pick-a-back!”

“But the schooner—­”

“I give you my word of honour, sir, that your ship shall not be visited nor tampered with in any way.  Return when you will, you shall find her precisely as she lies now.  In another two hours even this faint breeze will have died down, as you are seamen enough to know.  The anchorage is land-locked; the bottom is perfect holding; and as for unwelcome visitors, there can be none.  I am the sole resident on this island!”