neutral trade, it seemed incomprehensible that a sound business man
like Cappy Ricks should assume all these risks for the sake of a
little extra money. Surely he must realize that if he sent her on an
illegal errand her war-risk insurance would not hold.

On the other hand, it appeared to Murphy that the charter must have
been consummated with the full knowledge and consent of the Blue Star
Navigation Company, for the veriest tyro in the shipping business
could not have failed to be suspicious of that clause in the charter
party, stipulating a call at Pernambuco for orders. Of course there
was the possibility that this acquiescence had been due to
misrepresentation on the part of the New York agents or rank stupidity
on the part of the Blue Star Navigation Company. But Seaborn & Company
were above a shady deal. In putting through the charter for the Blue
Star Navigation Company it might have occurred to them that all was
not as it should be, but that was none of their business. If they
spread their hand and permitted Cappy Ricks an unobstructed view, it
was up to Cappy to decide and order them to close or reject the
charter. As for stupidity on the part of the Blue Star Navigation
Company, Murphy knew full well that stupidity was the crime Cappy
Ricks found it hardest to forgive. Even had Cappy overlooked that
suspicious clause in the charter, because of his age, Matt Peasley's
youth and practical maritime knowledge should have offset Cappy's
error; and even if both had erred, there still remained the matchless
Skinner, as suspicious as a burglar, as keen as a razor, as infallible
as a chronometer.

No, it just didn't seem possible that the Blue Star Navigation Company
had gone into the deal with eyes wide open; on the contrary, it seemed
equally impossible that they had gone into it with their eyes shut.