"Andre Norton - The Opal-Eyed Fan" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

suggested no good will toward the in-truder—even as if they were about to consider defense against an invasion.
Persis remembered tales that the Bahama wreckers and those from the Keys had been, not too long ago either,
bitter enemies. And there had been hints of se-cret battles fought far away enough so that no neutral watchers had
witnessed such.
Though the law had now settled boundaries and many of the Bahamians and their families moved to the Keys
rather than lose their livelihood, old jealousy and hatred might still smolder under the surface. Cer-tainly what Lydia
had said suggested that Captain Leverett held little or no liking for the master of the vessel now coming to anchor in a
domain he had made his own.
Persis moved away from the window. Lydia seemed very sure of herself, preparing to give this Captain Ralph
Grillon the welcome of an honored guest. But— once more her own single vivid memory of those last moments on
board the Arrow when the master of this Key had dumped her into his boat like a bale of goods, made Persis wonder a
little at the other girl's defiance. The impression which remained in her own mind of Captain Leverett was that he was
certainly a man to be reckoned with.
So perhaps there were storm clouds of another kind ahead. But that was none of her concern. More important
than any arrivals by canoe or ship, arrivals which had nothing to do with her affairs, was Uncle Augus-tin's story.
He must feel—her breath caught a little—he must feel very ill. He, who had always been so self-sufficient and
the master of his destiny, and of hers too, who had waved aside that earlier offer of repayments—must now face dire
necessity to make this trip to claim funds from a stranger. And now to tell her about it. Funds tainted with dishonest
dealing. Uncle Augustin was a truly honorable man. Was he entirely ruined then?
A tap on the door interrupted her unpleasant chain of thought. She lifted the latch to find Molly outside, and
behind her two of the island men carrying Persis' trunk between them. Molly waved them in, her round face one
determined scowl. After they had set down their burden and were gone, the maid sniffed.
"Fees indeed!" She snapped at the door closing be-hind them. "They dare to talk about fees, do they—?"
"What fees?"
Hands on her hips, her face flushed, Molly fronted the girl.
"Seems like those rescued by these seagoin' var-mints are supposed to fee them for not being left to drown!
Never did I hear such un-Christian talk! Wasn't my own father one of them at the Cape who went out in the boats
when there was a ship a-reef at home? And there was no talk then of fees—that I'll give oath on!"
Persis' own indignation arose. All of a piece—this wrecking. You rescued a ship, or at least its cargo, and
settled with the Captain for either a fee or else the goods to be auctioned. So of course it would naturally follow that
the passengers, also saved, had to fee the wreckers in turn. But she fully agreed with Molly's outraged feelings.
"Did they quote you a sum?" She strove to control her anger. Certainly Uncle Augustin was not going to be
bothered by this! Though what she could do, except ask Captain Leverett for a reasonable time to pay, Persis did not
guess. The more she thought of this sys-tem, the hotter her anger grew.
"I did not ask," Molly returned. "Knowin' as how this was yours I just told them straight out to bring it here.
Might be all in it is ruined by water anyway. Then that there big Irishman, him who bosses the wharf crew, said as how
this couldn't be moved 'cause it was cargo. I give him the sharp of my tongue about that, I can tell you! Cargo, eh! And
I had some things to say about this fee business that one won't be forget-tin' in a hurry.
 "I told him the master was sick abed and not likely to be able to talk fees. And that he wasn't to bother you
with such foolish wickedness neither. I don't think," Molly ended on a note of satisfaction, "we'll hear any more about
it—not from that one anyway."
So they were not really guests, Persis thought. Cap-tain Leverett's house might as well be an inn, in spite of
all its luxury. Mrs. Pryor ought to be able to straighten out the status of such uninvited intruders. Of all under this
roof, Persis believed Mrs. Pryor the best to question frankly. And it was up to her to do it.
She had no idea of what funds Uncle Augustin car-ried—whether they could so meet their "ransom" when
this pirate wrecker demanded it. But if she could gain some idea of the sum— They must be able to pay the doctor
also. And there would be their passage on to Key West, and from there to the Bahamas. She, who had never handled
more than the household accounts in her life, was more than a little disturbed.
Molly was busy with the trunk. Perhaps Persis could find Mrs. Pryor and get it settled about their
status under this roof as soon as possible. Murmuring that she had an errand, Persis went back into the hall