Fred M. White

Name: The Master Criminal — The Loss of the “Eastern Empress”
Author: Fred M. White

The Master Criminal — The Loss of the “Eastern Empress” (1898)

Summary

“The Master Criminal — The Loss of the “Eastern Empress””, published in 1898, is a work by Fred M. White. It explores elements such as Gryde, the Eastern Empress and San Maza.

Quotes from The Master Criminal — The Loss of the “Eastern Empress” (Fred M. White)

Fred M. White, The Master Criminal — The Loss of the “Eastern Empress” (1898)

“ Quite naturally he found himself at length in a café, and as if the thing were the merest accident in the world, who should be there but Marcos.
“A fine night, my friend,” said the latter.
“Fine indeed,” Gryde responded. “But you would not have recognised me had I not given you what some people call the office. You have seen the ship?”
“Ay, indeed. If she were only ours! Those gunboats! Well, if you are successful we will make short work of them.”
“I am always successful,” Gryde said calmly. “Three days from now the Eastern Empress will sail into de la Guarde. All your men are ready?” ”

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Source: Wikisource

Fred M. White, The Master Criminal — The Loss of the “Eastern Empress” (1898)

“ Gryde proceeded. “The ship is steering by the chart, as these people think, a degree or so to the south of the reef. As you know perfectly well, we are steering right on to it. When you feel the first shock, you will know exactly what to do. That water balance must be shifted as arranged to convey the idea that the vessel is filling, and thus increase the confusion. This course will also lighten the ship by the head, and enable her to float.” ”

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Source: Wikisource

Fred M. White, The Master Criminal — The Loss of the “Eastern Empress” (1898)

“ And Gryde paused significantly. Marcos nodded.
“I am obliged to you,” he said; “it shall be done. “Is there any more?”
“A little thing—a mere trifle,” Gryde replied. “When you board the Eastern Empress and hand me over that money, you will find my four accomplices on board. Whilst I go on to San Maza with the coaster you have for me, they will remain to enjoy your hospitality for a day or two. If anything happens to them in the meantime I will try and put up with the loss with fortitude.”
“Dead men tell no tales,” Marcos whispered. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Fred M. White, The Master Criminal — The Loss of the “Eastern Empress” (1898)

“ Marcos muttered. “Your Excellency has guessed it.”
“That is because I have studied the question,” said Dumaresque. “A cruiser such as you require would, fully equipped, cost a million. The manning is of no great consequence, nor the officering either for the matter of that. Good men with an eye to ultimate income will flock round you as a matter of course. What could you put down in cash for a ship such as you require?” ”

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Source: Wikisource

Fred M. White, The Master Criminal — The Loss of the “Eastern Empress” (1898)

“ Within three months, two months, the Eastern Empress shall be at the mouth of de la Guarde. The spot is desolate; there is a good natural harbour there, and with your own engineers specially imported with the necessary appliances to the spot, a few days will alter the Eastern Empress beyond recognition. Then you can boldly sail into your chief harbour of San Maza and make up your complement of men and officers.”
“Still, there are lions in the path,” Marcos suggested. “Where did the ship come from?”
“Let a paragraph go round the papers that an American firm has turned out the cruiser for you. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Fred M. White, The Master Criminal — The Loss of the “Eastern Empress” (1898)

“ I leave it to your people to alter the Eastern Empress beyond recognition. The thing is nothing like so difficult as it would appear. There is another thing to which I would direct your earnest attention. About the same time that my prize arrives at de la Guarde the complement of an English man-o’-war will reach San Maza—in boats. They must be got away at once: plead the disturbed state of the country or what you will. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Fred M. White, The Master Criminal — The Loss of the “Eastern Empress” (1898)

“ I give you my word that there will be no fuss or bother whatever.”
“And as to the rest?”
“As to the rest, two months from to-day you will be at de la Guarde with your engineers and workmen. To the hour I shall steam into the harbour. You will come aboard and pay me the £200,000 and provide me with a coaster to take me to San Maza. Is that so?”
Marcos stretched out a lean brown claw eagerly.
“Shake hands upon it,” he gurgled. “Providence must have brought us together.”
Dumaresque, otherwise Gryde,smiled.
“Heaven helps those who help themselves,” he said sotto voce. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Fred M. White, The Master Criminal — The Loss of the “Eastern Empress” (1898)

“ Gryde strolled along the street to his lodgings in an amiable frame of mind; all his plans were complete and success seemed assured. The alterations made in the chart were mere pin points by comparison, but then an inch thereon meant miles of blue water. The work of a few moments was the result of months of steady toil and study. If genius be an infinite capacity for taking pains, then veritably Gryde was a genius in his way.
•••••
Two days later Gryde started for Portsmouth to take his place on the Eastern Empress. He was altered out of recognition. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Fred M. White, The Master Criminal — The Loss of the “Eastern Empress” (1898)

“ A scent of fresh tobacco smoke floated out from the library. Gryde wondered if he might indulge himself, then he abandoned the suggestion. The mixture of pleasure and business rarely leads to satisfactory results.
To overhear and oversee this interview Gryde had remained perdu in the Grosvenor Crescent house for two hours. Through the half-opened door he could see Lord Ararat and Captain James Clinton carefully studying a huge chart laid out before them on the table. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Fred M. White, The Master Criminal — The Loss of the “Eastern Empress” (1898)

“ Clinton admitted. “The fact is we want a new survey of this portion of the Eastralian Seas. This Mineria-Catagonia business will be a fine excuse for sounding The Gut without arousing the suspicion of anybody. We are there to protect English interests in case of trouble.”
Captain Clinton smiled, and the First Lord smiled also. An eminent cotton-spinner who had made a fortune, and attained a peerage, was just the very man for an enlightened Government to choose as head of the Admiralty. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Fred M. White, The Master Criminal — The Loss of the “Eastern Empress” (1898)

“ Even if it were possible detection could speedily follow. Otherwise, the £200,000 is your own.”
“It has been as good as my own for some time,” said Dumaresque. “The thing is easy as easy—when you know how it is done. What my plans are and whence I derived all my information is my own secret. ”

Fred M. White

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