ed. "I'm frightfully fond of her
myself."

They glanced at each other very intimately, like long-established allies
who fear an aggression--and are ready for it.

Then steps were heard. Miss Thompkins entered.

"Well," drawled Miss Thompkins, gazing first at Audrey and then at Madame
Piriac. "Of all the loveliest shocks----Say, Musa----"

Behind her stood Musa. It appeared that he had been able to get away by the
same train as Tommy.

CHAPTER XXXI

THE NOSTRUM

The hemisphere of heaven was drenched in moonlight, and--rare happening
either on British earth or on the waters surrounding it, in mid-summer--the
night was warm. In the midst of the glittering sea the yacht moved without
the appearance of motion; only by leaning over the rail and watching the
bubbles glide away from her could you detect her progress. There were no
waves, no ripples, nothing but a scarcely perceptible swell. The gentle
breeze, unnoticeable on deck, was abaft; all the sails had been lowered and
stowed except the large square sail bent on a yard to the mainmast and
never used except with such a wind. The _Ariadne_ had a strong flood tide
under her, and her 200-h.p. twin motors were stopped. Hence there was no
tremor in the ship and no odour of paraffin in the nostrils of those who
chanced to wander aft of the engine-room. The deck awning had been rolled
up to the centre, and at the four corners of its frame had been hung four
temporary electric lights within Chinese lanterns. A radiance ascended from
the saloon skylight; the windows of the deck-house blazed as usual, but the
deck-house was empty; a very subdued glow indicated where the binnacle was.
And, answering these signs of existence, could be distinguished the red and
green lights of steamers, the firm rays of lighthouses, and the red or
white warnings of gas-buoys run by clockwork.

The figures of men and women--the women in pale gowns, the men in
blue-and-white--lounged or strolled on the spotless deck which unseen hands
swabbed and stoned every morning at 6 o'clock; and among these figures
passed the figure of a steward with a salver, staying them with flagons,
comforting them with the finest exotic fruit. Occasionally the huge square
sail gave an idle flap. "Get that lead out, 'Orace," commanded a grim voice
from the wheel. A splash followed, as a man straddled himself over the
starboard bow, swung a weighted line to and fro and threw it from him.
"Four." Another splash. "