The possibility,
however, remains that he may be acting solely in his own interest.
Three or four times during the day Count d'Artigas has come aft and
remained for some time scanning the surrounding horizon attentively.
When a sail or the smoke from a steamer heaves in sight he examines
the passing vessel for a considerable time with a powerful telescope.
I may add that he has not once condescended to notice my presence on
deck.
Now and then Captain Spade joins him and both exchange a few words in
a language that I can neither understand nor recognize.
It is with Engineer Serko, however, that the owner of the _Ebba_
converses more readily than with anybody else, and the latter appears
to be very intimate with him. The engineer is a good deal more free,
more loquacious and less surly than his companions, and I wonder what
position he occupies on the schooner. Is he a personal friend of the
Count d'Artigas? Does he scour the seas with him, sharing the enviable
life enjoyed by the rich yachtsman? He is the only man of the lot who
seems to manifest, if not sympathy with, at least some interest in me.
I have not seen Thomas Roch all day. He must be shut in his cabin,
still under the influence of the fit that came upon him last night.
I feel certain that this is so, when about three o'clock in the
afternoon, just as he is about to go below, the Count beckons me to
approach.
I do not know what he wishes to say to me, this Count d'Artigas, but I
do know what I will say to him.
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