start. He had been
taken aback by the appearance of Captain Carew, the man so different
from his preconceived picture. This was no rough bully of the seas;
Carew's bearing and dandified apparel bespoke gentility. Martin had
just observed one of the captain's hands, a slender, white,
aristocratic hand, small for the man's size. On the back of the hand
was a star, tattooed in red.

The tattooing recalled Smatt and Smatt's words; recalled to Martin his
reason for being in that room; banished for the moment his
knight-errant mood. He thrust his hand into his inside overcoat pocket
and felt of the envelope. Smatt's formula came to his lips.

"I wish to see you on the Hakodate business," he said.

"It is time that business was settled. Did the Chief send you?" Carew
responded promptly.

"That is correct," said Martin.

He half withdrew the envelope from his pocket and then hesitated. This
Carew was a severe and superior person. The packet delivered, Martin
foresaw instant dismissal. And that poor girl! Yet, Carew was a white
man.

"But, Captain Carew, you could not have understood me aright!" he
appealed. "I tell you, these Japanese have a young white woman----"

"Enough!" barked Carew. His tone made Martin jump. "Young man, you
were sent here to deliver certain papers to me. Do so."

Silently, Martin handed over the envelope. He was baffled. He was
angry.

"Now--get out!" commanded Carew, waving him toward the hall.

Martin turned toward the exit. Hot, edged words were on his tongue's
tip, and he could not trust himself to further urge this cold-blooded
wretch. He took a step toward the door and then stopped short, staring
into the corner of the room. He saw a man's gray overcoat lying on the
floor in the corner.

He wheeled upon Carew again and found the latter's eyes upon him in a
threatening glare. "You--you--that coat!" stammered Martin.

"Enough!" exclaimed Carew. "You have finished your business with me,
young man. You will find your guide in the hall; he will conduct you
to the street. And a word of advice, my good fellow: If you value your
skin and your employment, you will promptly forget everything and
anything you may have seen in this house!"

Martin choked upon his rage. Within him surged a hot hatred of this
insolent sailor; this captain of yellow bravos; this abductor of girls;
this man who dared not face the daylight. He was a worm beneath the
Captain's feet. He wa