nned to my jacket!"

"This is good fortune, indeed," said Armitage a moment later when they
had shaken hands. "I finished my errand at Geneva unexpectedly and here I
am."

He smiled at the feebleness of his explanation, and joined in their
passing comment on the life of the harbor. He was not so dull but that he
felt Dick Claiborne's resentment of his presence on board. He knew
perfectly well that his acquaintance with the Claibornes was too slight
to be severely strained, particularly where a fellow of Dick Claiborne's
high spirit was concerned. He talked with them a few minutes longer, then
took himself off; and they saw little of him the rest of the day.

Armitage did not share their distinction of a seat at the captain's
table, and Dick found him late at night in the smoking-saloon with pipe
and book. Armitage nodded and asked him to sit down.

"You are a sailor as well as a soldier, Captain. You are fortunate; I
always sit up the first night to make sure the enemy doesn't lay hold of
me in my sleep."

He tossed his book aside, had brandy and soda brought and offered
Claiborne a cigar.

"This is not the most fortunate season for crossing; I am sure to fall
to-morrow. My father and mother hate the sea particularly and have
retired for three days. My sister is the only one of us who is perfectly
immune."

"Yes; I can well image Miss Claiborne in the good graces of the
elements," replied Armitage; and they were silent for several minutes
while a big Russian, who was talking politics in a distant corner with a
very small and solemn German, boomed out his views on the Eastern
question in a tremendous bass.

Dick Claiborne was a good deal amused at finding himself sitting beside
Armitage,--enjoying, indeed, his fellow traveler's hospitality; but
Armitage, he was forced to admit, bore all the marks of a gentleman. He
had, to be sure, followed Shirley about, but even the young man's manner
in this was hardly a matter at which he could cavil. And there was
something altogether likable in Armitage; his very composure was
attractive to Claiborne; and the bold lines of his figure were not wasted
on the young officer. In the silence, while they smoked, he noted the
perfect taste that marked Armitage's belongings, which to him meant more,
perhaps, than the steadiness of the man's eyes or the fine lines of his
face. Unconsciously Claiborne found himself watching Armitage's strong
ringless hands, and he knew that such a h