Under the circumstances he had to hop up and see if she was coming. Nor was his anxiety unrewarded. He discovered that she was rowing out toward the range-light, while the light-keeper was approaching in his motor-boat. Soon he saw her standing in the little bay, waiting for the launch to drift in. He saw the light-keeper touch his cap and stand up to listen. She talked to him and handed him something. Marvin sat down, patted the dog, and reflected. When she had returned home and disappeared within the house, he rose up and rowed over to Old Duck. “Good afternoon, sir.” “Guid afternoon.” The light-keeper began to haul up his lamp, with an unlubricated sound that did not encourage conversation, but turned his head long enough to reveal a small blue eye and a yellow spray of beard. Then he looked back and aloft. “I am camping down below, and my name is Mahan.” “Glad to meet ye, Mr. Mahan.” “Mr. Keeper, you have just received ten dollars, haven’t you?” The official fastened his halyards and turned round. “’Tis a fine afternoon, and my name is Gillies.” “Mr. Gillies, I want you to find some way of putting that money back in her kitchen.” The Scotchman chuckled softly. “Are ye a scollard of the auld man?” “Mr. Gillies, are you aware that the grain boats of Augustus Caesar were four hundred and twenty feet long?” The Scotchman chuckled again. “It doesna require a boat so long to go to the Soo. Would ye be going?” “Not till tomorrow morning, but then I shall bring them some provisions. They’ll be taking a ride in Canada, if it doesn’t rain. What’s the prospect for fair weather?” “Good. But it might blow up hard if she comes home and sees an Irishman with a bag o’ flour on his back. An Injun would be more to the purpose.” “That’s a good idea. Any Indian in particular?” “Na.” “I will try to find one. How can we get the money back?” The Scotchman advanced to his launch and stepped in. “Were ye in France?” “I was.” He drew from underneath the bow a small bag. “A Frenchman gied me this. He called it sarrasin, but it’s plain buckwheat.” The canny Scot loosened the string, took from his pocket two five-dollar bills, laid them within, tied the bag up, and placed it in Marvin’s skiff. “Augustus Caesar, ye say, was engaged in the grain business. So was Joseph before him. But I hae me doots if Caesar’s dog or Joseph’s dog wad fetch and carry like Jeanie’s dog.” Chapter 37. Rubidium The tent was pitched, and dusk began to settle. The thrushes were filling the cathedral with chimes, and the windows began to glow. He felt like a vandal. The owner of this sacred place would never willingly destroy her church of Rheims, with its vesper windows and vesper bells, and the winds of eternity lingering among its columns.