hen I say things were looking
decidedly, well blue, for us. Oh, don't misunderstand me. No
ill-treatment. Just the reverse, in fact. But you can understand we
weren't bothering much about politeness when we couldn't get anything to
eat. And that's what it amounts to."

"Yes, I suppose so," said Mr. Spokesly. "I must say, finding so many of
you here, has surprised me."

"We had to stay. Couldn't get out," replied the other man, shooting a
frayed cuff and flicking the ash delicately from his cigarette.

They were seated, as it were, at the centre of that vast crescent which
the city forms upon the flanks of Mount Pagos. On either hand the great
curves of the water-front sprang outward and melted into the confused
colours of the distant shore. From their vantage point on the roof of
the Sports Club, they could see in some detail the beauty of the
buildings, the marble entrances, the cedar-wood balconies and the green
jalousies of the waterside houses. They could see the boats sailing
rapidly across the harbour from Cordelio in the afternoon breeze, and
beyond, bathing the whole panorama in a strong blaze of colour, the sun,
soon to set in the purple distances beyond the blue domes of the
islands. To the right the shore curved in a semi-circular sweep to form
the head of the great Gulf, while on their left the green waters,
ruffled by the breeze and given a magical lustre by the rays of the
setting sun, stretched away into the distance.

And it was into this distance that Mr. Spokesly, his elbow on the stone
balustrade of the roof of the Sports Club, was thoughtfully directing
his gaze. Even with his physical eyes he could make out a faint dot,
which he knew was the _Kalkis_. And while he listened to the remarks of
his companion, his thoughts went back to the final catastrophe of the
voyage. He had been leaning over watching the boat come alongside, his
hand on the telegraph to put her astern, when the whole ship shook
violently, there was a grinding of metal on metal and a sound as of a
load of loose stones pouring harshly upon hollow iron floors. He stared
round him even as he pulled the handle back to full astern, searching
for some hint of the cause. And he realized he had been searching for
something else, too. He had been voicelessly calling for Plouff and for
the captain. As he sat calmly looking out across the water at the
wreck--for he did not disguise from himself the fact that the _Kalkis_
was a total loss--h