e."

"Thank you," she said, "I shall."

He was silent for a little, musing, his gaze wandering far over the
placid reaches of the night-wrapped ocean. "Funny little world, this,"
he said, rousing: "I mean, the ship. Here we are today, some several
hundreds of us, all knit together by an intricate network of interests,
aims, ambitions and affections that seem as strong and inescapable as
the warp and woof of Life itself; and yet tomorrow--we land, we separate
on our various ways, and the network vanishes like a dew-gemmed spider's
web before the sun."

"Only the dew vanishes," she reminded him; "the web remains, if almost
invisible.... Still, I know what you mean.... Wasn't that Miss Landis
you were with, just now?"

"Yes."

"Tell me"--she stirred, half turning to him--"has anything new
transpired--about the collar?"

"You know about that!" he exclaimed in surprise.

"Of course; the ship has been humming with it ever since dinner."

"But how--?"

"Mrs. Ilkington told me, of course. I presume Miss Landis told her."

"Doubtless," he agreed reluctantly, little relishing the thought. Still,
it seemed quite plausible, Alison's views on advertising values
considered. "No," he added presently; "I've heard nothing new."

"Then the Secret Service man hasn't accomplished anything?"

"So you know about him, too?... Can't say--haven't seen him since
morning. Presumably he's somewhere about, sniffing for clues."

"Miss Landis," said the girl in a hesitant manner--"doesn't seem to
worry very much ...?"

"No," admitted Staff.

"Either that, or she's as wonderful an actress off the boards as on."

"They mostly are," Staff observed. He was hardly ready to criticise his
beloved to a comparative stranger. The subject languished and died of
inanition.

"By the way--did you ever solve the mystery of your bandbox?"

Staff started. "What made you think of that?"

"Oh--I don't know."

"No--haven't had any chance. I rather expect to find out something by
the time I get home, though. It isn't likely that so beautiful a hat
will be permitted to blush unseen." His interest quickened. "Won't you
tell me, please?" he begged, bending forward.

But the girl laughed softly and shook her head.

"Please!"

"Oh, I couldn't. I've no right to spoil a good joke."

"Then you think it's a joke?" he enquired gloomily.

"What else could it be?"

"I only wish I knew!"

The exclamation was so fervent that Miss Searle laughed agai