"What thing, and what are you talking about?"
Captain Wass patted his coat pocket.
"I convinced her, and it was lucky that I was able to, for it's a matter
where only a close and careful friend ought to be let in. But after this
you mustn't keep any secrets away from me if you expect me to help you.
However, you have shown that you can take good advice when I give it to
you. I advised you to grab Julius Marston's daughter and, by thunder!
you went and done it. Now--"
Mayo impatiently interrupted. Captain Wass was drawling, with manifest
enjoyment of the part he was taking in this romance.
"You have brought something for me, have you?"
"She is a keen one, son," proceeded the captain, making no move to show
the object he was patting. "Hunted me up, remembering that I had you
with me on the old Nequasset, and put questions to me smart, I can
tell you! You ought to have been more confidential with me."
"Captain Wass, I can't stand any more of this nonsense. If you have
anything for me, hand it over!"
"I have taken pains for you, traveled down here, four or five hundred
miles, taking--"
"Yes, taking your time for the trip and for this conversation," declared
Mayo, with temper. "I have been put in a mighty mean position by not
knowing you had these papers."
"Safe and sure has always been my motto! And I had a little business of
my own to tend to on the way. I have been finding out how that fat Fogg
snapped himself in as general manager of the Vose line. Of course, it
was known well enough how he did it, but I have located the chap that
done it for him--that critter we took along as steward, you remember."
In spite of his anxiety to get into his hands the parcel in the old
skipper's pocket, Mayo listened with interest to this information; it
related to his own affairs with Fogg.
"I'm going to help the honest crowd in the Vose line management to tip
over that sale that was made, and when the right time comes I'll have
that white-livered clerk in the witness-box if I have to lug him there
by the ears. Now, Mayo, that girl didn't say what was in this packet."
He pulled out a small parcel which had been carefully tied with cords.
"She is in love with you, because she must be in love to go to so much
trouble in order to get word to you. If this is a love-letter, it's
a big one. Seems to be all paper! I have hefted it and felt of it
consid'able."