w
it went no further. This somewhat astonished me until I had some light
thrown upon it later. But in the meantime I wondered, and insensibly
that significant silence began to modify my attitude. Had he known me
in the fulness of my disposition he would probably have spoken; but as
it was he had other plans to follow. One of these seemed to include a
reconciliation with myself. His quizzical smile disappeared, and he
shook his head at me solemnly at table.

"Doctor," said he, "that Scotchman's head!"

"I am not a Scotchman," I retorted impatiently.

"Well," he breathed heavily, "I will admit it was a very bad joke."

I was on the point of replying that it was not a joke at all, when I
recovered my temper. After all, it is trying to the temper to sit
opposite to a man whom you know to be a prime ruffian, however impotent
his aspirations may be. Since I had unveiled his plot, even though no
credence was given it, still Holgate was harmless. But, as I have
already said, I am a man of precautions and I held my tongue. I think
he had taken me only for a man of impulse.

"I must confess I do not see the joke," I answered.

"Now you come to insist on it, and shed the cold light of reason on it,
no more do I," he said with a laugh. "Jokes are very well behind the
footlights."

I shrugged my shoulders. "Think what a fool I look!" I said coldly.

His friendliness increased. "My dear fellow," he said, bending over to
me, "I give you my word I've held my tongue. I thought of that. I
didn't know you'd take it so seriously."

"Your profession should have been the stage," I answered.

He nodded. "Low comedian. I wish I had. They make good salaries, I
believe, instead of beggarly----"

"Oh, you have the prince's boodle," I said lightly. He laughed. "So I
have."

"And I'll be hanged if I apologise," I said. "I have suffered enough
from the mistake."

"Quite right, doctor," said he gravely, "I would not apologise to a
bishop, let alone a third officer."

With that apparent advance to an understanding we parted, and I did not
set eyes on him again until the abrupt events that brought about the
conference in the cabin.

If my personal appearance on the matter did not get out, at least the
tale of the prince's identity passed swiftly from mouth to mouth. The
whole ship's company was agog with interest, an interest which
increased during the next two days. Sir John Barraclough expressed to
me his opinion of Day's behaviou