at's exactly what I want to know," Dominic replied in a fury and then
went back to the harbour on the chance that I might have called either on
board or at Madame Leonore's cafe.

I expressed to him my surprise that he should fuss about me like an old
hen over a chick. It wasn't like him at all. And he said that "_en
effet_" it was Madame Leonore who wouldn't give him any peace. He hoped
I wouldn't mind, it was best to humour women in little things; and so he
started off again, made straight for the street of the Consuls, was told
there that I wasn't at home but the woman of the house looked so funny
that he didn't know what to make of it. Therefore, after some
hesitation, he took the liberty to inquire at this house, too, and being
told that I couldn't be disturbed, had made up his mind not to go on
board without actually setting his eyes on me and hearing from my own
lips that nothing was changed as to sailing orders.

"There is nothing changed, Dominic," I said.

"No change of any sort?" he insisted, looking very sombre and speaking
gloomily from under his black moustaches in the dim glow of the alabaster
lamp hanging above his head. He peered at me in an extraordinary manner
as if he wanted to make sure that I had all my limbs about me. I asked
him to call for my bag at the other house, on his way to the harbour, and
he departed reassured, not, however, without remarking ironically that
ever since she saw that American cavalier Madame Leonore was not easy in
her mind about me.

As I stood alone in the hall, without a sound of any sort, Rose appeared
before me.

"Monsieur will dine after all," she whispered calmly.

"My good girl, I am going to sea to-night."

"What am I going to do with Madame?" she murmured to herself. "She will
insist on returning to Paris."

"Oh, have you heard of it?"

"I never get more than two hours' notice," she said. "But I know how it
will be," her voice lost its calmness. "I can look after Madame up to a
certain point but I cannot be altogether responsible. There is a
dangerous person who is everlastingly trying to see Madame alone. I have
managed to keep him off several times but there is a beastly old
journalist who is encouraging him in his attempts, and I daren't even
speak to Madame about it."

"What sort of person do you mean?"

"Why, a man," she said scornfully.

I snatched up my coat and hat.

"Aren't there dozens of them?"

"Oh! But this one is danger