“Especially if you consider that I paid about the same as if I’d hired a top yard to do it. As it was, the company I set up made a very nice profit, and we may take on other yachts to maintain. Of course, if I’d built a larger vessel, I’d have had to go to Abeking & Rasmussen in Germany or Palmer Johnson in Wisconsin or some other brilliant builder thousands of miles away. Just think what I saved on jet fuel by doing it in-house, as it were.”

Everybody laughed.

A steward came into the room with a sheet of paper on a silver tray and offered it to St. Clair. “Excuse me, sir, but I thought you’d like to know.”

St. Clair picked up the paper and read it, while the others chatted. He tapped on a wineglass with a fingernail, and everybody got quiet.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, “I’m sorry to interrupt your dinner, but it’s my sad duty to inform you that former President Joseph Adams died suddenly this afternoon at his home in Santa Fe. He and Sue were due at their home on Mount Desert Island later this week for the summer. We had planned to call in and see them.”

Everyone seemed locked in a stunned silence.

St. Clair raised his glass: “I give you a great man—Joe Adams.”

Everyone raised his glass and drank.

“I knew him well,” St. Clair said, “and I’ve never known a better human being.”

The others exchanged reminiscences, then St. Clair turned toward Stone.

“You’re very quiet, Stone. Did you know Joe Adams in Santa Fe?”

“We met at the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles some years back and spent a riotous evening together in a skybox belonging to a mutual friend. I think we had more fun than any of the delegates.”

“It’s a pity he got to serve only a few months as President, after his predecessor died,” Saltonstall said.

“He and Sue came to Maine every summer,” St. Clair said. “Joe loved it here.”

The rest of the evening was quieter.

15

AFTER DINNER THEY ADJOURNED TO the yacht’s saloon for brandy and coffee and watched the TV coverage of Joe Adams’s death for a while. It was nearly midnight before the group showed signs of breaking up. Stone and Holly thanked their hosts profusely and rose to go.

“If you hang around Islesboro a little longer, perhaps we’ll see you again,” St. Clair said. “We’ll be cruising for a couple of weeks. Perhaps you could join us for a few days. We’re not fully occupied aboard.”

“That would be delightful,” Stone said, “if we’re able to stay longer.” They exchanged cards, and Stone and Holly boarded the launch for the return trip to the dock.

“What did you think of Christian St. Clair?” Holly asked as they were walking back to the house.