Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [66]
‘Socialising tonight, eh?’ interjected Conrad, feeling a little uncomfortable with the bantering conversation.
‘I’ve been doing a bit of that at the Conti already,’ he said easily. ‘My, we are the talk of the town.’
Conrad looked concerned. ‘Oh dear. I hope the RM hasn’t heard about Olivia’s little adventure.’
‘People will always talk. I ignore them and just live my life,’ said Tyndall.
‘That’s all well and good, but when one aspires to a certain standing in the community, one has to consider one’s actions to a certain degree. It’s not possible to simply do as one wants to, no matter what.’ Seeing the expressions of Tyndall and Olivia, Conrad realised he was sounding pompous.
‘Is that what you want, Conrad? To aspire to a certain standing in the community?’ asked Olivia gently. ‘I’m sorry if my actions have embarrassed you.’
Tyndall glanced at the contrite Olivia, but suddenly knew from the light in the depths of her green eyes she wasn’t the least bit sorry for taking the trip on the Bulan.
‘Don’t worry about it, Conrad. Your wife’s reputation is intact. Now, we must discuss business for a moment or two. We have to start deep sea pearling and that will mean further investment.’
‘What sort of investment?’ asked Conrad cautiously, knowing that funds were low.
‘We have to equip the lugger with a new pump and gear and make more room to accommodate a crew. The schooner will act as mother ship. And we have to find a diver and tender.’
‘That’s all your department,’ said Conrad. Enthused by the idea, he added. ‘The more I learn about the pearling business, the more I like it.’
‘He’s got the bug now,’ said Olivia, pleased that Conrad’s normal reserve and caution were swept aside by the heady business of pearling, with its lure of finding valuable pearls.
Like so many men before him, the mystique of pearls was affecting Conrad. He had begun to read what he could find on the industry and had talked to as many people as possible about all aspects of pearling. The loose rounds, baroque and blister pearls attached to the shell were considered a bonus, but enough were found in the deeper waters off Broome to make it a lucrative sideline to pearl shell. Not all the pearls collected were officially reported to the Customs authorities for duty and record keeping. It was a great temptation, especially when good pearls were found, not to declare them and sell them on the snide market or send them to buyers in Singapore, Hong Kong or Melbourne.
Conrad was glad to be able to report his own small success. ‘Actually, while you were away, I made a good friend of the town’s best pearl cleaner, so we can hand over the first batch of pearls to him. His name is Tobias Metta.’
Tobias Metta was from Ceylon via Singapore. Conrad had taken to frequently visiting Toby’s non-descript office where his work bench was spread with the most basic of tools—a magnifying lens, a goldsmith’s file stuck in the end of a champagne cork, a knife with several blades honed to their ultimate sharpness, file board and clamp, emery paper, ruby powder, a soft cloth and a pair of scales.
His round face, that looked as if it had just been oiled and polished, always broke into a welcoming smile. Fortunes came or fell away from his fingers as he delicately operated on flaws that marred a pearl’s beauty and value. The art lay in his hands—surprisingly squat stub–fingered hands—but the agility, lightness and swiftness of touch was like watching two creatures perform a dance, so delicately they twisted and spun the pearl beneath the blade or file. Like a doctor, the pearl cleaner was believed to have healing hands. Though luck, skill and judgement were just as important. Despite the pressure of his work, Tobias Metta still managed to chuckle and talk all the time while he worked.
‘It’s the risk the owner takes, Mr Hennessy, to sell immediately at a small profit or gamble that beneath the surface is a perfect beauty. If it isn’t there, I cannot produce it. I am not a magician,’ smiled Toby. ‘But I can make more beautiful a