“I am eager for you to be on your way and out of my hair. You three have a halo of disaster about you, and I do not intend to pay you a per diem for an extended stay in the tropics.” Carrington lifted his eyebrows comically to show that he intended no malice. “It’s possible the cable did not reach your father, considering that commercial traffic is relayed from here to Key West and then routed on up the coast. Tell you what. I will send a wire to your father through official channels, at legation expense.” He took a pen from the holder and dipped the inkwell. “What’s the message?”

“Same as the first, I guess,” said Nathaniel. “ ‘Double Eagle wrecked storm Cuba Stop. Stranded Havana Stop. Urgent you wire money passage home Stop. Nat Eliot Drew Stop End.’ ”

“Anything more? The government’s paying,” Carrington offered.

They thought for a moment, and then Drew recalled words Nathaniel had spoken in what seemed a long time ago.

“Could you add this before our names?” he asked the consul. “ ‘We have looked to the quarry and the pit. Stop. Found Annisquam Stop.’ ”

“And he’ll know what that means?” asked Carrington, writing.

“He should,” Drew answered.

“All right. Check with Joseph in the morning to see if there’s a reply. None then, check in the afternoon, about one o’clock. The hotel is the Cojimar. Joseph will show you how to get there.” A long, luxurious drag on the cigar. “If you boys were a shade older, I’d offer you one of these.”