THE ALABASTER JAR. 
213 
examination of the yacht, and Howe went 
indoors. He was busy until dinner, when 
the discovery of the cheque in his pocket 
brought his thoughts back to the yacht. 
He spoke of it to" his wife, and passed her 
across the letter he had received. 
“ Hart way ! ” she exclaimed. “ Why, 
that must be the great financier.’’ 
Dr. Howe’s knowledge of things financial 
was small, and he had not heard the name. 
“ Surely you’ve seen the name in the 
papers ! ” said his wife. <e He’s at the head 
of the New Beet Sugar Company that your 
brother wanted you to invest in. You 
remember how the shares went up ever so 
many points when it was announced that 
Mr. Hartway was behind it.” 
“ Is he a millionaire, then ? ” 
“ Of course he is. So that is his beautiful 
yacht ! ” 
She went to the window and looked over 
the bay. Evening was falling, and the 
lighthouse was flashing its fan-light across 
the darkening sky. The Vespertillo was 
brilliantly illuminated. Light streamed from 
every porthole over the water of the harbour. 
Mrs. Howe gazed at it a moment, and then, 
recollecting something, picked up a news- 
paper from the corner. 
“ Here it is ! ” she exclaimed, after searching 
the columns. “ I thought I had noticed it 
yesterday morning. Listen to this : ‘ Mr. 
Hartway, the well-known financier, is going 
for a short sea voyage in the company of 
Professor Madison, the Egyptologist, and 
Mr. Julian Vornheim, Sir Mark Sherman, 
and Mr. Lucas Spyer, who are all well known 
in the financial world. It is said that Mr. 
Stonewall William, the American millionaire, 
may accompany him. Naturally this gather- 
ing together of some of the kings of finance 
has aroused great interest, and it is rumoured 
that an important development may be 
expected. Some astonishment has been ex- 
pressed that some of these gentlemen should 
meet together, as it is well known that Mr. 
Hart way and Mr. Stonewall William have 
been irreconcilable rivals in certain big 
speculative movements for many years.’ 
llow interesting that you should go on board 
the yacht, George, and see them all ! ” 
Mrs. Ifowe put down the newspaper. 
Her husband felt a little mystified, for he 
was reflecting that in all probability it was 
Hartway himself who anticipated being ill, 
and that, if a man of such wealth knew before- 
hand at what time sickness would overtake 
him, it was strange that he did not carry 
a medical man about with him. On the 
other hand, if Hartway expected someone 
else to be ill between nine and ten, it intro- 
duced an additional element of mystery into 
the case that was scarcely pleasant. 
However, he did not worry himself, for 
the cheque had put him in a good humour 
and it came at an opportune moment. His 
practice was not very large and it took him 
all his time to make both ends meet. More- 
over, there was an enjoyable sense of 
expectation that he might possibly earn more 
money before the night was out. 
While he was smoking in his study his wife 
came in and suggested that he ought to put 
on evening dress. He opposed the idea 
strenuously. 
“ But remember everything will be very 
luxurious on the yacht, George,” she urged. 
“ And they may ask you to stay and have a 
smoke or a drink or something. I’m sure you 
would feel more comfortable if you dressed.” 
So at length Dr. Howe consented, and went 
up to dress. 
Shortly after nine o’clock the bell rang, and 
Dr. Howe sprang to his feet with an exclama- 
tion of satisfaction. The steward was waiting 
for him in the hall. 
“ Mr. llartway would like you to come 
aboard the yacht at once, sir. The launch is 
waiting at the steps of the jetty.” 
Dr. Howe slipped on a light coat, picked 
up his bag, and followed the man down the 
hillside to the quay below. 
“ Is anyone ill ? ” he asked. 
“ I don’t know, sir.” 
The answer was given in tones of polite 
indifference, as if the steward saw nothing 
unusual in his master’s summons for the 
doctor. 
“ Where are you bound for ? ” asked Howe, 
as they reached the quay. 
“ I scarcely know, sir. The coast of 
France, I believe. We weigh anchor at six 
to-morrow morning,” 
A gasolene launch was waiting at the bottom 
of the steps, and in a few moments they were 
gliding swiftly across the dark water to the 
accompaniment of the sharp staccato panting 
of the exhaust. The launch swept round in 
a wide circle and came alongside the yacht. 
Dr. Howe, grasping his bag, clambered up 
the gangway and stood on the deck of the 
Vespertillo. Save for the distant hum of a 
dynamo the ship was silent. Looking back, 
he saw the lights of his house up on the hill- 
side. The steward took his coat and bag and 
showed him down the companion-way. 
The saloon of the Vespertillo , though not 
very big, was exquisitely fitted. Inlaid 
: u 
