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IwasunhappywhenIclosedmyeyes；anditwastounhappinessthatIopenedthemagainnextmorning，toaconfusedsenseofsomecalamitystillinarticulate，andtotheconsciousnessofjadedlimbsandofaswimminghead。Imusthavelainforsometimeinertandstupidlymiserable，beforeI
becameawareofareiteratedknockingatthedoor；withwhichdiscoveryallmywitsflowedbackintheiraccustomedchannels，andIrememberedthesale，andthewreck，andGoddedaal，andNares，andJohnson，andBlackTom，andthetroublesofyesterday，andthemanifoldengagementsofthedaythatwastocome。Thethoughtthrilledmelikeatrumpetinthehourofbattle。Inamoment，Ihadleapedfrombed，crossedtheofficewherePinkertonlayinadeeptranceofsleepontheconvertiblesofa，andstoodinthedoorway，inmynightgear，toreceiveourvisitors。
Johnsonwasfirst，bywayofusher，smiling。Fromalittlebehind，withhisSundayhattiltedforwardoverhisbrow，andacigarglowingbetweenhislips，CaptainNaresacknowledgedourpreviousacquaintancewithasuccinctnod。Behindhimagain，inthetopofthestairway，aknotofsailors，thenewcrewoftheNorahCreina，stoodpolishingthewallwithbackandelbow。TheseIleftwithouttotheirreflections。ButourtwoofficersIcarriedatonceintotheoffice，where(takingJimbytheshoulder)Ishookhimslowlyintoconsciousness。Hesatup，allabroadforthemoment，andstaredonthenewcaptain。
“Jim。”saidI，“thisisCaptainNares。Captain，Mr。Pinkerton。”
Naresrepeatedhiscurtnod，stillwithoutspeech；andIthoughtheheldusbothunderawatchfulscrutiny。
“O！”saysJim，“thisisCaptainNares，isit？Goodmorning，CaptainNares。Happytohavethepleasureofyouracquaintance，sir。Iknowyouwellbyreputation。”
Perhaps，underthecircumstancesofthemoment，thiswasscarceawelcomespeech。Atleast，Naresreceiveditwithagrunt。
“Well，Captain。”Jimcontinued，“youknowaboutthesizeofthebusiness？You’retotaketheNoraCreinatoMidwayIsland，breakupawreck，callatHonolulu，andbacktothisport？Isupposethat’sunderstood？”
“Well。”returnedNares，withthesameunamiablereserve，“forareason，whichIguessyouknow，thecruisemaysuitme；butthere’sapointortwotosettle。Weshallhavetotalk，Mr。
Pinkerton。ButwhetherIgoornot，somebodywill；there’snosenseinlosingtime；andyoumightgiveMr。Johnsonanote，lethimtakethehandsrightdown，andsettotooverhaultherigging。Thebeastslooksober。”headded，withanairofgreatdisgust，“andneedputtingtoworktokeepthemso。”
Thisbeingagreedupon，Nareswatchedhissubordinatedepartanddrewavisiblebreath。
“Andnowwe’realoneandcantalk。”saidhe。“What’sthisthingabout？It’sbeenadvertisedlikeBarnum’smuseum；thatposterofyourshassettheFronttalking；that’sanobjectioninitself，forI’mlayingalittledarkjustnow；andanyway，beforeI
taketheship，IrequiretoknowwhatI’mgoingafter。”
ThereuponPinkertongavehimthewholetale，beginningwithabusinesslikeprecision，andworkinghimselfup，ashewenton，totheboiling-pointofnarrativeenthusiasm。Naressatandsmoked，hatstillonhead，andacknowledgedeachfreshfeatureofthestorywithafrowningnod。Buthispaleblueeyesbetrayedhim，andlightedvisibly。
“Nowyouseeforyourself。”Pinkertonconcluded：“there’severylastchancethatTrenthasskippedtoHonolulu，anditwon’ttakemuchofthatfiftythousanddollarstocharterasmartschoonerdowntoMidway。Here’swhereIwantaman！”criedJim，withcontagiousenergy。“Thatwreck’smine；I’vepaidforit，moneydown；andifit’sgottobefoughtfor，Iwanttoseeitfoughtforlively。Ifyou’renotbackinninetydays，Itellyouplainly，I’llmakeoneofthebiggestbustseverseenuponthiscoast；it’slifeordeathforMr。Doddandme。Aslikeasnot，it’llcometograpplesontheisland；andwhenIheardyournamelastnight——andablame’sightmorethismorningwhenI
sawtheeyeyou’vegotinyourhead——Isaid，’Naresisgoodenoughforme！’“
“Iguess。”observedNares，studyingtheashofhiscigar，“thesoonerIgetthatschooneroutsidetheFarallones，thebetteryou’llbepleased。”
“You’rethemanIdreamedof！”criedJim，bouncingonthebed。
“There’snotfivepercentoffraudinallyourcarcase。”
“Justholdon。”saidNares。“There’sanotherpoint。Iheardsometalkaboutasupercargo。”
“That’sMr。Dodd，here，mypartner。”saidJim。
“Idon’tseei
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