"I was curious to know what might be goin' on inside."

There was a finality about this which held Captain Cai gravelled for a
moment. It hardly seemed to admit of a reply. At length he said--

"Well, you've frightened a woman into hysterics by it, if that's any
consolation."

"There, now! Mrs Bosenna?"

"No, it was not Mrs Bosenna. . . . By the way, that reminds me.
I've changed my mind over that hat."

"Hey?"

"I find I've a use for it, after all."

But at this moment 'Bias appeared in the doorway behind him.

"Seen anything?" demanded 'Bias.

"Interduce me," said Mr Philp with majestic calm.

Captain Cai, caught in this act of secret traffic, blushed in his
confusion, but obeyed.

"'Bias," said he, "this is the gentleman that caused the mischief
inside. His name's Philp, and he'd like to make your acquaintance."

BOOK II.

CHAPTER IX.

FIRST SUSPICIONS.

It was August, and the weather for weeks had been superb. It was also
the week of Troy's annual regatta, and a whole fleet of yachts lay
anchored in the little harbour, getting ready their riding lights.
Two or three belated ones--like large white moths in the grey offing--
had yet to make the rendezvous, and were creeping towards it with all
canvas piled: for the wind--light and variable all day--had now at
sunset dropped almost to a flat calm.

"A few pounds to be picked up out yonder," commented Captain Cai, "if
the tugs had any enterprise."

Captain 'Bias reached out a hand for the telescope. "That yawl--the big
fellow--'d do better to take in her jib-tops'le. The faster it's
pullin' her through the water the more it's pullin' her to leeward.
She'd set two p'ints nigher with it down."

"The fella can't make up his mind about it, either: keeps it shakin'
half the time."

The two friends sat in 'Bias's summerhouse, the scent of their tobacco
mingling, while they discoursed, with the fragrance of late roses,
nicotianas, lemon verbenas. "Discoursed," did I say? Well, let the
word pass: for their talk was discursive enough. But when at intervals
one or the other opened his mouth, his utterance, though it took the
form of a comment upon men and affairs, was in truth but the breathing
of a deep inward content. On the table between them Captain Cai's
musical box tinkled the waltz from "Faust."

They had become house-occupiers early in May, and at first with a few
bare sticks of furniture a-piece. But by dint of steady