due to my not determining to stay on board until the morning, which I
could no doubt have done with the captain's permission. It never struck
me for a moment that we should be attacked in force. I thought it
probable that an attempt at assassination would be made, but it
certainly did not seem probable that it would be attempted while you
were all with me. You are not in the slightest degree to blame, for
your part of the agreement was carried out to my satisfaction. I shall
certainly carry out mine, as I have arrived home safe and sound."

"Well, governor, it is very good of you; but I tell you it will go
against the grain for us to take your money."

On landing, Mark parted with Dick Chetwynd, who had arranged to drop
Mark's bag at his lodgings on his way home, and at once took a hackney
coach to Islington. Millicent gave a cry of delight as he entered the
room.

"You are back earlier than I expected, Mark. You told me before you
started that the wind was in the east, and that you might be a long time
getting to Amsterdam unless it changed. I have been watching the vane on
the church, and it has been pointing east ever since.

"Well, you have sold the diamonds, I hope?" she said, after the first
greeting was over.

"No; I have bad news for you, Millicent; the jewels have been stolen."

"Well it does not make much difference, Mark. We have much more than
enough without them, so don't bother yourself in the least. How did it
happen?"

"Well, it is rather a long story. I will tell it you when Mrs.
Cunningham is here, so as not to have to go over it twice. How are the
dresses getting on?"

"I suppose they are getting on all right," she said. "I have done
nothing for the last two days but try them on. You see, we put them
out to three milliners, and they all three seem to reach the same point
together, and I start after breakfast, and it takes about two hours at
each place. You don't know what trouble you have given me by hurrying
things on so unreasonably."

"Well, it is better to have it all done and over," he said, "than to
have the thing hanging over you for a couple of months."

"That is what Mrs. Cunningham says. Now I want to hear about your
adventures, and I will call her down."

"Only think, Mrs. Cunningham," Millicent said presently, with a laugh,
after she had returned with her, "this silly boy has actually let the
diamonds be stolen from him."

"No, really, Millicent!"

"Yes, indeed. Fancy