Free The Silver Lotus by Thomas Steinbeck Page A

constructed from anything at hand, including driftwood. Like cliff-bound seabird nests, these haphazard dwellings clung precariously along the rock-strewn shore at several locations around the bay.
    By his own estimation, the captain judged the weight of the salt as at least a third more than that of the weight of the squid, but it mattered
little to him as long as Master Yee was standing security for the agreed price. Though he took every opportunity to oblige his father-in-law, there were limits, and in cases of business the limit was always set at price per ton upon safe delivery.
    Because The Silver Lotus , at present holding two-thirds of her return cargo, drew too much water, loading the squid from the commercial pier was deemed impractical, and it was decided to take on this last bit of cargo at anchor, using the Chinese fishing junks as lighters. It would take longer to hoist and load, to be sure, but it gave Captain and Mrs. Hammond the opportunity to enjoy a small excursion through the countryside around Monterey and Pacific Grove, and then down the coast to Carmel. The captain was very taken with the area and told Lady Yee that because it was a fishing community, it reminded him somewhat of his birthplace on Deer Island in the state of Maine. Lady Yee thought the land around the bay quite lovely, but above all other considerations, she secretly believed the place had great commercial potential as well, and encouraged her husband to think about buying property in the vicinity as an investment. Since she was never wrong about such things, he gave the matter serious consideration, and the next day decided to open a sizable bank account in Monterey. He encouraged the bank to lend him assistance in finding suitable property, and the bank president, Mr. Hodges, who was only too pleased to have Captain Hammond, and his twenty-eight thousand dollars, as a new client, bent every effort toward being of assistance. To show his appreciation, Mr. Hodges informed the captain that they had recently received an order from the estate of the late Mr. Liam O’Sheen to place his town residence on the block. His heirs preferred living on their ranch in Big Sur and no longer wished to support the expense of the property.
    Mr. Hodges said he had known Mr. O’Sheen for almost twenty-eight years, and having been his guest many times, he knew the property well. He told the captain the house was quite large, with five bedrooms and
all the amenities, including a cook’s quarters, a large laundry room, and modern plumbing throughout. The ground story was constructed of heavy stone, and sat over a generous stone root cellar. The second story was constructed of stout timber and frame in the Dutch fashion, and overhung the ground floor by two feet all around the building. The large barn was constructed in like manner. There was a stone water tower attached to the house that also contained a dovecote below, and a lovely observation deck on the roof. Both the tower and the second-story bedrooms shared extensive views of Monterey Bay. The house was surrounded by extensive walled gardens and sat on fifteen acres of partially forested land. Besides the fine barn, the property boasted a carriage house and four acres of mature fruit and nut trees in a separate walled orchard. Mr. Hodges said that Mr. O’Sheen had spent a great deal of money enlarging and improving the house for his wife and children, and no convenience had been overlooked when it came to their comfort.
    The residence was to be sold with or without its contents, but Mr. Hodges stated that the remaining furnishings were of the best quality and should be examined before disposal one way or another. The banker offered to give the captain the use of one of his clerks as escort and to open the house for inspection. The captain, who was intrigued by the descriptions, said he would return at two-thirty that afternoon and avail himself of the kind offer. Then he went off to confer