"
Peter rose. "I am going to get some sleep, for we don't know what's
before us, and may not have much after to-night. But, Ray, there's a
harder thing than leaving one's wife at such a time."
"What's that, Peter?" asked Ray, looking at Peter with surprise.
"To know that there is no one to whom your going or return really
matters." Peter passed out of the cabin.
"By George!" said Ray, "if it wasn't Peter, I'd have sworn there was
salt water in his eyes."
"Anneke has always insisted that he was lonely. I wonder if she's
right?" Ogden queried.
"If he is, why the deuce does he get off in those solitary quarters of
his?"
"Ray," said Ogden, "I have a sovereign contempt for a man who answers
one question with another."
Peter reached the city at six the next morning, and, despite the hour,
began his work at once. He made a number of calls in the district,
holding whispered dialogues with men; who, as soon as Peter was gone,
hurried about and held similar conversations with other men; who
promptly went and did the same to still others.
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