human
Life's a rum thing, anyhow, said the skipper, when the three were seated in the dining room of the hotel, which was otherwise empty.
gpt
About this very hour this day week the Stella was makin' bad weather of it off some little islands north of the Aven. I wanted to put in here; but Mrs. Carmac wouldn't hear of it. I must push on for Lorient, she said--an' the pore gentleman we've just planted on top of the hill there was chaffin' her about bein' afraid o' spooks. Sink me! Who's the spook now?
human
I don't see what ghosts had to do with Pont Aven,
gpt
Neither do I, Sir, said Popple.
human
It was a funny remark, look at it any way you like.
gpt
Both of you seem to forget Mrs. Carmac's niece,
human
What of her?
gpt
Well, she represents the family disagreement which estranged Mrs. Carmac and the late Mrs. Ingersoll. You see, Mr. Fosdyke, your aunt was aware that her sister lived here, but evidently did not know she was dead. That fact would account for her disinclination to visit Pont Aven. In a word, Fate drove us on to that wretched reef, which you, Captain, will see more of if this fine weather lasts. How goes the salvage scheme?
human
I've got a diver, an' the right sort of craft to stand by. Has its own steam, an' a derrick, an' it'll be alongside Les Verrés at nine o'clock tomorrow morning. I'm sorry I can't find that chap Peridot. They tell me he's away with the fishin' fleet; but some of the boats may come in by tonight's tide.
gpt
What is there to salve?
human
Banknotes, an' jew'lry, an' dockyments,
gpt
Rather a wild-goose chase, isn't it?
human
That is a point on which our worthy friend and I differ, put in the secretary.
gpt
I bow to his superior judgment, of course; but I shall be vastly surprised if he brings ashore anything worth having.
human
It's a bit of a handicap not havin' Peridot,
gpt
Who is Peridot?
human
A Breton, whom Mr. Ingersoll employs occasionally on his cutter, explained Raymond.
gpt
He, and an American named Tollemache, together with Mr. Ingersoll and his daughter, were concerned in the rescue.
human
Mighty lucky thing for the rest of you that they were at sea that day, commented Fosdyke, with a certain viciousness born of a thought that had darted through his mind.
gpt
It was a close call, I'm told. Two minutes after the last man was taken off the Stella smashed up.