Part 29

But when they had dressed, and sought a real estate office, the last doubt vanished: it confirmed the clerk.

"If you haven't anything particularly pressing," said Macloud, "I suggest that we remain here for a few days and consider what is best to do."

"My most pressing business is to find the treasure!" Croyden laughed.

"Good! then we're on the job until it's found--if it takes a year or longer." And when Croyden looked his surprise: "I've nothing to do, old chap, and one doesn't have the opportunity to go treasure hunting more than once in a lifetime. Picture our satisfaction when we hear the pick strike the iron box, and see the lid turned back, and the jewels coruscating before us."

"But what if there isn't any coruscating--that's a good word, old man--nor any iron box?"

"Don't be so pessimistic--think we're going to find it, it will help a lot."

"How about if we don't find it?"

"Then, at least, we'll have had a good time in hunting, and have done our best to succeed."

"It's a new thing to hear old cynical Macloud preaching optimism!" laughed Croyden--"our last talk, in Northumberland, wasn't particularly in that line, you'll remember."

"Our talk in Northumberland had to do with other people and conditions. This is an adventure, and has to do solely with ourselves. Some difference, my dear Croyden, some difference! What do you say to an early breakfast to-morrow, and then a walk over to the Point. It's something like your Eastern Shore to get to, however,--just across the river by water, but three miles around by the Severn bridge. We can have the whole day for prospecting."

"I'm under your orders," said Croyden. "You're in charge of this expedition."

They had been passing numerous naval officers in uniform, some well set-up, some slouchy.

"The uniform surely does show up the man for what he is," said Macloud. "Look at these two for instance--from the stripes on the sleeves, a Lieutenant-Commander and a Senior Lieutenant. Did you ever see a real Bowery tough?--they are in that class, with just enough veneer to deceive, for an instant. There, are two others, opposite. They look like soldiers. Observe the dignity, the snappy walk, the inherent air of command."

"Isn't it the fault of the system?" asked Croyden. "Every Congressman holds a competitive examination in his district; and the appointment goes to the applicant who wins--be he what he may. For that reason, I dare say, the Brigade of Midshipmen contains muckers as well as gentlemen--and officers are but midshipmen of a larger growth."

"Just so! and it's wrong--all wrong! To be a commissioned officer, in either Army or Navy, ought to attest one's gentle birth."

"It raises a presumption in their favor, at least."

"Presumption! do you think the two who passed us could hide behind that presumption longer than the fraction of an instant?"

"Don't get excited, old man! I was accounting for it, not defending it. It's a pity, of course, but that's one of the misfortunes of a Republic where all men are equal."

"Rot! damn rot!" Macloud exclaimed. "Men aren't equal!--they're born to different social scales, different intellectualities, different conditions otherwise. For the purpose of suffrage they may, in the theory of our government, be equal--but we haven't yet demonstrated it. We exclude the Japanese and Chinese. We have included the negro, only within the living generation--and it's entirely evident, now, we made a monstrous mistake by doing it. Equal! Equal! Never in this world!"

"How about the next world?" asked Croyden.

"I don't know!" laughed Macloud, as they ascended the steps of the hotel. "For my part, I'm for the Moslem's Paradise and the Houris who attend the Faithful. And, speaking of houris!--see who's here!"

Croyden glanced up--to see Elaine Cavendish and Charlotte Brundage standing in the doorway.

VIII

STOLEN

"This is, truly, a surprise!" Miss Cavendish exclaimed. "Who would ever have thought of meeting you two in this out-of-the-way place."

"Here, too!" replied Macloud.

"When did you return, Geoffrey?" she inquired.

"From abroad?--I haven't gone," said Croyden. "The business still holds me."