"Of the Shore Lane. It isn't a road exactly."

"I don't care what you call it. Road or lane or cow-path. It ends
there?"

"Yes."

"And it IS your land? It belongs to you, personally, all of it, free and
clear?"

"Why--yes; it does." I could not see what business of his my ownership
of that land might be.

"All right. I asked that because, if it wasn't yours, if it was tied up
or mortgaged in any way, it might complicate matters. But it isn't."

"No."

"Good! Then we can get down to brass tacks and save time. I want a piece
of that land."

I looked at him.

"You want--?" I repeated, slowly.

"I want a strip of your land. Want to buy it, of course. I don't expect
you to give it to me. What's it worth, by the acre, say?"

I did not answer. All at once I was beginning to see a light. Captain