without claiming it â and it lay locked away on the premises ready to do its duty once more.
So what was it to be? To walk away from a fortune, or allow the respectable Jacob Meares to join the venture with a proven apparatus for the salving of treasure?
âYe said as how yeâd not be spare wiâ your advice, so now weâs askinâ, Mr Paine,â declared Stirk.
âAh. Iâm not sure how far I can help, as Iâve no knowledge of these, er, engines and such.â
âYe canât help, and wiâ all your sea service?â Stirk burst out. âWho we goinâ to ask, then?â
âSteady on, Toby. Your Mr Paineâs only bin a lubbardly foremast hand, mate,â Jeb said.
âLook, Mr Paine. You beinâ a gent anâ all, this Meares coveâll steer small wiâ you. All weâre askinâ is that you comes tâ see the bastard and let âim make his play, anâ keep an eye tâ weather and see if heâs flamminâ us, thatâs all,â Stirk begged.
The others looked at him with imploring eyes and Kydd knew he couldnât refuse. It was advice only that he would be giving, he told himself. âItâll cost you a stout Tobermory whisky but I believe Iâll bear you a hand.â
He pretended not to notice the chase of emotions on Stirkâs face.
Lines were cast off and
Maid of Lorne
took up on the brisk south-westerly with an eagerness that pleased all hands.
On the way they discussed strategy.
âGentlemen. This will only work for you if Mr Meares can produce the apparatus. And for that, what assurance do we have that itâs the authentic article?â Kydd pursed his lips. âFor that matter, has anyone heard of this Wrackman? I havenât.â
âHeâs not askinâ for coin in hand, Mr Paine. Only a share.â
If there was any sharp practice it was difficult to see what could be gained. âIf heâs on shares then weâve grounds to go forward.â
â
We?
â
âIn the larger sense, Laddie,â Kydd admonished, with a grin.
Chapter 15
J acob Meares greeted them warmly, as though heâd been expecting a return of his visitors.
After their counsellor had been introduced, he ushered the party into a back room, which was not large but private.
âYouâll understand, Mr Meares, my principals are anxious to establish the ⦠practicality of what is being proposed.â
âCertainly, Mr Paine. May I enquire, have they acquaintance with the salvorâs art? No? Then itâs as well theyâre in good hands. I myselfââ
âThey are most desirous at this stage to take sight of the diving engine, if this is at all possible.â
âBy all means! I should state that it has been quite some years since the device saw salt water and it may be a little dusty, but do take it from me, it was the actual article that was used toââ
âMr Meares. Have you any authority that can stand by your words?â
He beamed. âBut of course. I can appreciate your very understandable circumspection. Therefore I have for yourviewing newspaper cuttings of its successful use at the Isle of May â this very machine, sir!â
âWe shall wish to inspect it closely.â
âQuite. Now, there are a number of matters that it would be meet to dispose of before we get to considerations of a more weighty nature. Shall I be candid? It goes without saying that your presence reveals your search for a diving bell has been in vain, so it crosses my mind that my diving engine is your only recourse. It is within my power to drive an infernal bargain that would embarrass your means, but I will not. All I wish is fair recompense. A fifty per centum of the proceeds. A not unjust claim, for without my engine you will have nothing. This, I venture, is a small request, but without its granting I say with all sorrow that my further