But there was nothing that attracted the sharply focussed mind of Anthony. He noted that Whitaker was one who never saw the reality of anything in which he was engaged, except by accident. For a time Anthony strove to come upon such an occasion; but, except for the loss of the _Two Brothers_, and the _Sea Mew_, there was nothing outstanding. "It was a singular chance," said Whitaker, "those two ships going down. I've often thought about it. Both were well found, finely officered, with American crews. Rich cargoes, too, and fully insured." "Then there was no loss," said Anthony. "Not a dollar, except to the insurance people." There was another point upon which Anthony desired information; and he carefully led Whitaker to it. "You had a narrow escape with the _Sea Mew_," said he. "Your not sailing in her from Lisbon was quite providential." "I'd gone down like a stone," said the dandy. "It was only the house's hurry to get me to Brest, with those papers for Lafargue, that saved me." "I remember you mentioned some papers," said Anthony, "but I forget what you said they were." Whitaker took on the same resentful look he'd worn when he first spoke of the matter at Dr. King's. "I never knew," said he. "Devil of a way, wasn't it? sending me pelting off like that, and never knowing what it was about. I felt like a fool! And that old Lafargue's a close-mouthed gentleman, I can tell you. No danger of any one ever worming anything out of him." "You thought yourself badly treated, then?" said Anthony. "Candidly, I did." "Have you ever said so, here in the counting-house, to any one in authority?" "Yes, once in a conversation with Mr. Weir I saw an opportunity to mention the matter, and did so. Mr. Weir is always considerate and listened to what I had to say. Then he told me I'd better speak to Mr. Stevens. But, you know, Mr. Stevens seldom bothers about things like that; so I took the thing no further. I have no doubt, though, that I was treated like a junior clerk; for whatever the word was I took to Lafargue it made a particular stir in his place of business." "Did you ask no questions, then?" "You may be sure I did. But no one answered them. It was quite mortifying." One day, at the hour for such things, Anthony found himself in a snug corner of a near-by ale house; quite by chance the affable clerk, Griggs, who had also come in for a snack, was seated beside him. Griggs seemed quite put out of countenance by the weather. "The ice in the river," said he, "is so thick that the whole population seems skating on it of a night. Access to the Jerseys is very easy now; carts are going to and fro by the dozens; and venison and wild fowl are very cheap. But when will an anchor be lifted? When will another ship get up, to discharge her merchandise? They say the ice is solid all the way to New Castle." "And yet," said Anthony, "you must have seen many a winter that was as bad."