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284 thing you did hide those pearls, as it turns out, because, as sure as the Lord made little apples, if I'd been able to put my fingers on 'em the day the Petrel called here I should have sold them to Steel, and I shall get a far better price for the things in Sydney."

"On the other hand," said Keith, "you'd have been able to take on a partner in your pearling. Heaven only knows how that might have turned out."

"I wonder," mused Chester.