"
"Huh, it's a lot of money."
There was a momentary silence. Elsie's eyes grew larger, and she
became rather pale. As was her habit when puzzled, she placed a finger
on her lips. Christobal noted her action. Indeed, he missed few of
her characteristic habits or expressions. He laughed quietly.
"I think you are quite right, Miss Maxwell," he said. "This is one of
the many instances in which silence is golden."
Taken by surprise, she blushed and dropped her hand. But Courtenay
said promptly:
"There are some instances in which silence may be misinterpreted. Let
me state at once that the shippers of the valuable cargo on board the
_Kansas_ will suffer a serious financial reverse if the ship is lost.
Two thousand tons of copper may be worth a considerable fixed sum, but
the lack of the metal on the London market at the end of January will
have far-reaching consequences in a fight against the bull clique in
Paris, and that is why Mr. Baring made this heavy shipment."
"Those consequences could be foreseen and discounted," put in
Tollemache, dryly.
"Exactly. But by whom? By the man who sent his only daughter as a
passenger on this vessel?"
Every one scouted that notion.
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