put the yacht about at once, instantly, and take
me back.' She tried to speak firmly.

'Ah!' he said, 'I am afraid that's impossible. I didn't put out to sea
with the intention of returning at once, instantly.' In the last words
he gave a faint imitation of her tone.

'When I do get back,' she said, 'when my father gets to know of this
affair, it will be an exceedingly bad day for you, Mr Jackson.'

'But supposing your father doesn't hear of it--'

'What?'

'Supposing you never get back?'

'Do you mean, then, to have my murder on your conscience?'

'Talking of murder,' he said, 'you came very near to murdering my
friend, Miss Spencer. At least, so she tells me.'

'Is Miss Spencer on board?' Nella asked, seeing perhaps a faint ray of
hope in the possible presence of a woman.

'Miss Spencer is not on board. There is no one on board except you and
myself and a small crew--a very discreet crew, I may add.'

'I will have nothing more to say to you. You must take your own course.'

Thanks for the permission,' he said. 'I will send you up some
breakfast.'

He went to the saloon stairs and whistled, and a Negro boy appeared
with a tray of chocolate. Nella took it, and, without the slightest
hesitation, threw it overboard. Mr Jackson walked away a few steps and
then returned.

'You have spirit,' he said, 'and I admire spirit. It is a rare quality.'

She made no reply. 'Why did you mix yourself up in my affairs at all?'
he went on. Again she made no reply, but the question set her thinking:
why had she mixed herself up in this mysterious business? It was quite
at variance with the usual methods of her gay and butterfly existence to
meddle at all with serious things. Had she acted merely from a desire
to see justice done and wickedness punished? Or was it the desire of
adventure? Or was it, perhaps, the desire to be of service to His Serene
Highness Prince Aribert? 'It is no fault of mine that you are in this
fix,' Jules continued. 'I didn't bring you into it. You brought yourself
into it. You and your father--you have been moving along at a pace which
is rather too rapid.'

'That remains to be seen,' she put in coldly.

'It does,' he admitted. 'And I repeat that I can't help admiring
you--that is, when you aren't interfering with my private affairs. That
is a proceeding which I have never tolerated from anyone--not even from
a millionaire, nor even from a beautiful woman.' He bowed. 'I will tell
you what I pr