“Yes, you have me there, Mr. Schwartzbrod. I see the force of your reasoning, and a man has only himself to blame if he neglects those necessary precautions which you have mentioned, so we will say nothing more about that phase of the matter, but you will easily understand that having thought myself entitled to the use of the Rajah, I may not feel myself inclined to renew your charter now.” “Ah, there again, my lord, it is all set down in black and white. The charter distinctly states that I am to have the option of renewal for a further three months when the first three months has expired.” “You corner me at every point of the game, Mr. Schwartzbrod. I take it, then, that my purchase of the _Rajah_ does not invalidate the arrangement made with you by her former owners?” “Certainly not, my lord. If you buy a property, you take over all its liabilities.” “That seems just and reasonable. So your application for renewal is a mere formality, against which any objection of mine would be futile?” “Did not Sparling & Bilge explain to you, my lord, that the steamer was under charter?” “I never saw those estimable gentlemen, Mr. Schwartzbrod. The purchase was made by an agent of mine, and I have no doubt Sparling & Bilge made him acquainted with all the liabilities I was acquiring. If you insist on exercising your option, Mr. Schwartzbrod, I suppose I must either postpone the development of my gold-bearing property, or charter another steamer?” “I should be sorry to put you to the trouble and expense of chartering another boat when the _Rajah_ is so well suited to your purpose, my lord. It is possible that, even before the first charter is completed, the _Rajah_ may have returned to Southampton, and our experiments in the cattle trade may end with the first voyage. In that case I shall be very pleased to relinquish my claim upon your steamer.” “That is very good of you, Mr. Schwartzbrod. By the way, where is the _Rajah_ now?” “She is probably in some port along the Argentine coast, south of Buenos Ayres.” “Really? Then perhaps you can tell me where Mackeller is?” “Mackeller? You mean the mining engineer, son of the stockbroker?” “Yes, I thought he was in my employment, and sent him down to attend the loading of the _Rajah_, but he has disappeared. Did you engage him?” “No, I know nothing of him.” “I thought perhaps he had sailed with the _Rajah_.” “Not to my knowledge. Doesn’t his father know where he is?” “His father appears to know no more than I do. Just as much, or just as little, whichever way you like to put it.” “He’s no employee of mine, my lord.” “I think he should have given me notice if he intended to quit my service. Probably he has gone hunting a gold mine for himself.” “I think there are many mining engineers more valuable than young Mackeller, my lord. He always seemed to me a stubborn, unmannerly person.”