“I’ll give you three twenty-five and accept a thousand dollars commission in case my clients take her for four years.  That’s my final offer, Mr. Hudner.  Take it or leave it.”

“I’ll take it,” said poor Hudner.  “It’s better than letting the vessel fall to pieces in Rotten Row.  How soon will you hear definitely from your principals?”

“I’ll hear to-day; but meantime you might give me a three-day option on the vessel, in case of unavoidable delays—­though I’ll do my best to close the matter up at once.”

Hudner considered.  The Unicorn had paid his company but two dividends since her purchase from Cappy Ricks, while it was common talk on ’Change that the Lion had paid for herself prior to the 1907 panic.  In consideration of the fact, therefore, that the Lion did not owe Cappy Ricks a cent, Hudner shrewdly judged that Cappy would be less eager than he for business, and that hence it would be safe to give a three-day option.  He led Matt back to his office, where he dictated and signed the option.  Matt gave him a dollar and the trap was set.

From Hudner’s office Matt returned to that of Cappy Ricks.  The heir to the Ricks millions was still there, as Matt noted with a sudden, strange thrill of satisfaction.

“I’ve waited until your return, Captain Peasley,” she said, “to see whether you could dispose of dad’s competitor as handily as you disposed of your own that time in Cape Town.”

Matt blushed and Cappy chuckled.

“I’ve bet Florry five thousand dollars you’ll dispose of Hudner and the Unicorn, Matt,” he said.

“I’m glad of that, sir, because if you hope to win the bet you’ll have to help me.  I’ve gone as far as I can, sir.  I’ve got an option on the Unicorn for three days on a sixty-day charter, running coastwise with general cargo, with the privilege of renewing for four years at the same rate.  The rate, by the way, is three hundred and twenty-five dollars.  I want you to charter her from Hudner; and then—­”

“Bless your soul, boy, I don’t want her!  Haven’t I got a boat of my own I’d almost be willing to charter at the same figure to Hudner?”

“You don’t understand, sir.  The Mannheim people, with copper mines in Alaska, want two boats to freight ore—­and their agent came down on the train with me.  Don’t you see, sir, that you have to control both boats to get a price?  If you don’t that agent will play you against Hudner and Hudner against you, until he succeeds in tying up both boats at a low price.  He wouldn’t tell you he wants two boats, but he was fool enough to tell me—­”

“God bless my mildewed soul!” said Cappy excitedly, and smashed his old fist down on his desk.  “For the man to do things, give me the lad who keeps his ears open and his mouth shut!  Of course we’ll charter her; and, what’s more, we’ll give her business ourselves for sixty days just to keep her off the market!”