nd deliberately.

"In that case, Tony is a doomed man," commented Myra, with a mocking
laugh. "But perhaps the fact that I do not love you will induce you to
spare his life," she added hastily. "Don't you find it rather
difficult to be melodramatic and to talk farcical nonsense before
breakfast, Don Carlos?"

"I am debating with myself how best to get rid of Standish," responded
Don Carlos unsmilingly. "An opportunity may present itself during this
cruise. I do not wish to kill him, and would much prefer him to
surrender you to me voluntarily. But if he is obstinate, and if you
persist in refusing to obey the dictates of your heart to break with
him, he, as you have said, is a doomed man."

So earnest was his tone, so serious his manner, that Myra felt her
heart contract, but she forced herself to treat his speech as a joke.

"Don Carlos, you are an impossible person!" she exclaimed. "Do you
want me to rush away and warn Tony that his life is in danger? Shall I
ask the captain to order two of the crew to play the part of Scotland
Yard detectives, shadow your every movement and keep guard over Tony?
You don't really expect me to take you seriously, do you?"

Before Don Carlos could answer, Tony, together with two or three other
members of the party, came up the companion-way.

"Hallo, people, what are you looking so solemn about?" cried Tony
cheerily. "Not feeling sea-sick, are you, what?"

"Good morning, darling, so glad you've come," said Myra, and tilted up
her face for a kiss. She seldom greeted her betrothed with a kiss if
there were others present, but she guessed the display of affection
might annoy Don Carlos. "This dreadful man has been trying to make my
blood run cold," she added smilingly, with a challenging glance at Don
Carlos. "I think he must have spent most of his time in Paris at the
Grand Guignol, and it has turned his brain. I'm afraid he is suffering
from some sort of homicidal mania, poor fellow."

"I warn you, good people, and you, mine host in particular, that I am
in a murderous mood," said Don Carlos gaily. "Miss Rostrevor has
driven me insane, and I may go Berserker at any moment."

"Splendid, old chap!" laughed Tony. "What about attacking the
breakfast with savage fury? There goes the gong...."

It was a beautifully calm day, and after breakfast most of the company
assembled on the promenade deck, some to lounge and smoke and chat or
read, others to play quoits or deck