The Treasure of Maria Mamoun by Michelle Chalfoun

Author:Michelle Chalfoun
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780374303440
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

21

HIGH AND DRY

“‘The blank spot,’ five letters,” Maria was saying a short while later. She sat beside Mr. Ironwall on his huge bed, the New York Times crossword puzzle spread on the blankets between them. Brutus, still damp and sandy, had been relegated to a towel on the floor.

“Your heart is not in this,” Mr. Ironwall said. “What is distracting you?”

Maria couldn’t tell him about sailing or the horrible boys who may have been, at that very moment, turning Paolo in for a thief. She struggled for something relevant to say.

“I went to the library and looked up privateers,” Maria finally said.

“And?” Mr. Ironwall raised his brow.

“And I found out that a privateer is like a legal pirate,” Maria said. “And Captain Murdefer was an ancestor of yours, wasn’t he?”

Mr. Ironwall’s eyes widened. “And how did you discover that particular skeleton in my closet?”

“Well, Murdefer is actually mur de fer, which means ‘wall of iron’ in French,” Maria said. “So someone in your family changed the name. Probably to hide the fact that you all are descended from pirates.”

“Aha, you’re a regular Sam Spade.”

“Who?”

“Famous detective? Dashiell Hammett wrote the novels, Edward G. Robinson did the radio shows. Humphrey Bogart, The Maltese Falcon; any of this ringing a bell?”

“I’ve heard of Humphrey Bogart.”

“Thank heavens for small blessings. I was about to give up on you entirely.” Mr. Ironwall took a deep breath. “So now that you know my bloody ancestry, I suppose you won’t respect the great name of Ironwall anymore.” He put his hand dramatically across his eyes, as if he were too ashamed to look at her.

Maria could tell he was kidding. “I just think it’s exciting. Do you know any stories about him?”

“Stories about him? Legends, I should say.” Mr. Ironwall furrowed his brow. “He was a blackguard. A thoroughly unprincipled person. They say he betrayed more than a few governments, and spent time in many a jail. He fought on both sides of the war on both sides of the ocean—he was a gun for hire who changed his loyalties as frequently as he changed his striped socks. It was only the love of a fine Island maiden that made him settle down here on Island soil. He moved into her homestead—the cottage where you are now—and set about having little Murdefers. Somewhere along the line we Americanized the name.”

“So did he get actual treasure?” Maria bounced with excitement. “Is that why you’re so rich?”

“Hasn’t your mother ever told you that discussing other people’s money is rude?”

“I’m sure she would have,” Maria said. “But we never knew anyone with money before.”

“So let us change the subject.” He folded his hands like a prim old lady. “How was the party at the Newcombs’? It must have been delightful. Ella was my favorite cook—don’t tell Hattie. Her clam chowder was ambrosia.”

“Mrs. Newcomb is still a good cook,” Maria said. “We had oysters, which I thought I’d hate, but I kind of liked.” That reminded Maria of the previous night’s conversation.

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