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“ The astute little Sudo was not the only person aboard ship about whom Darrell was decidedly curious. Puzzling to begin with, the personality of Philip Carmen soon became something which absorbed a large proportion of the secret-service agent's thoughts. Watching him quietly and unobtrusively from day to day, the government official presently reached the conclusion that his lazy, languid, drawling pose was nothing more than a mask to hide the man's real self. ”

“ There. was the barest perceptible pause during which the cigarette missed a wink, but Carmen did not shift his position by so much as a hair's breadth.
“Magdalena Bay?” he drawled. “You amaze me.” One would never have gathered as much from his tone. “Would it be—a—indiscreet to ask why all this secrecy?”
There was the faintest touch of sarcasm in his voice, which did not escape Darrell. There was also the least hint of another emotion which quickened the secret-service agent's pulse. ”

“ Darrell said, his eyes fixed keenly on the shadowy figure in the steamer chair.
This time the pause was a little longer, and the cigarette glowed brightly for several consecutive seconds.
“Treasure!” drawled Carmen, at length. “How very thrilling! And you have clews to something really valuable?”
“I think so. Of course, there's always a chance for exaggeration; but if it's what I believe, it should be almost priceless. You understand, I hope, why it was we kept our destination a secret? In a case like this, the fewer who know of it the better.” ”