"They opened my eyes," returned Whitaker. "They gave me some chance to see what the world is like." "I have been a matter of six voyages," said Sparhawk, in his precise way. "And I have been a general agent in as many ports from time to time. And this I have learned: the ports of the world are not _the_ world." "Very well," said Whitaker, composedly. "Whatever they are, I like them. Calcutta, now!" said he, to Anthony. "There's a place for you! Were you ever in Calcutta?" "No," said Anthony. "You should go there," said the other. "You should, by all means. It's an astonishing place. I was there three months--for Stevens; you never put your eyes on such a cargo as I stowed into the _Sea Mew_. Riches was no name for it. It was prodigious. Unfortunate she went down, though. Too bad." "She was lost, then?" said Anthony. "Yes; never heard of her after the day she sailed for home. Great pity. She was a magnificent ship; and the loss was murderous to the insurance people." "You had more misfortunes than that, had you not?" said Sparhawk. "Was there not a Stevens vessel, out of Lisbon for Liverpool, carrying ivory and wine? The _Two Brothers_, I think." Whitaker wrinkled his brows. "Yes," said he. "The _Two Brothers_. A fairly lucky ship, too. Quick voyages and good returns. I went in her to Lisbon with a mixed cargo from the Malayan ports, just after the _Sea Mew_ sailed. I expected to come home in her, but things got tangled, somehow; they took in the Liverpool merchandise, and I was sent off to Brest to see to some matters there. Devilish odd how things come about, isn't it? There's no doubt but the thing saved my life. If I hadn't been sent there I'd have gone down with the ship. But who sent me, I don't know. The word was given in an indirect way. I tried to trace it afterwards; but it seems it was all a mistake; no one was responsible." Sparhawk pursed his lips and regarded Whitaker interestedly; and then, after a moment, he fell to calculating. "There was a matter of twelve thousand English pounds went down in the _Two Brothers_," said he, striking a total; "and in the _Sea Mew_ I think it was more." "It was much more," admitted Whitaker. "I would say twice as much." He shook his head of hair, and looked somewhat bewildered. "It was a deal of money to scatter over the bottom of the sea," said he. "I'm glad I had nothing to do with it." Anthony studied the young dandy. He had an engaging appearance; and there was about him that superficial air of knowing that usually comes of experiences lightly felt. His mouth was pleasant, but it had little resolution; his eyes were quick, but there was no promise that they saw anything below the surface.