aratov. It was this
peculiar notion once more obtruded upon me that stung me into speech
with him.

"'You really think that?' 'You prefer this sort of place, for instance,
to New England?'

"'Oh there's no comparison,' he returned. 'Here you have absolute
freedom. There you are strapped down in a groove and remain there,
unless you fancy going to prison.' And he laughed contemptuously, as at
some reminiscence.

"'What do you understand by freedom?' I demanded and he bent his gaze
moodily upon the shadows as though seeking to elucidate some depressing
problem.

"'There are a good many answers to that question,' he said at length,
'but I should say, in my case, that it means deliverance from the
Anglo-Saxon's infernal ideas of morality.' The last words came out with
what was almost a snarl. He put the things he had been showing us back
in the bag and locked it. 'Will you put it back, my dear?' he murmured
with a smile. 'We must pick out something for you when ... eh?' The girl
gave him an affectionate glance and carried the bag away into the dusk.

"'Then I take it, Captain, you are doing well here?' I observed. He
shrugged his shoulders.

"'So-so,' he answered. 'So-so. Political troubles have interfered so
far, but it is upon them really that we build, you know. Our losses will
be more than made good shortly.'

"'But I was given to understand that the Minister of the Interior
declined to authorize the concessions.'

"Captain Macedoine became extremely human. He grinned behind his chunky
hand.

"'Pardon me for laughing,' he returned. 'The Minister of the Interior
has gone on a long tour in Anatolia, for his health. It is quite
possible he will remain down there. It would certainly be a sensible
thing to do.'

"'Why, what do you mean?' I asked.

"'Is it possible you do not know?' he said in a pitying tone. 'The
English newspapers print a great deal of football news and racing, but a
matter like this is passed over in silence. Eh? What? These ladies
know. I know. But you don't know. Your captain does not know either, I
dare say. Nor your owners. I was prepared for this three months back, I
may say. My affiliations with various syndicates enabled me to draw the
necessary deductions. I chartered three ships, borrowing the money at
very high interest. Those ships are loading stores and ammunition in
Glasgow. They will arrive in about three weeks.'

"'Ammunition?' I repeated, rather suspecting his sanity. This