Bootlace Man."

"Well, where is Mr. Chermside?" Nugent demanded of him angrily.

"It's not my fault that he ain't here, sir," the fellow replied in
seemingly surly protest. "Nothing I could say would make him stop. As
soon as the launch came he insisted on going off to the steamer."

Violet uttered a cry of anguish. Her self-set task had failed. Not only
had her lover fled, but he had fled like a craven without keeping the
tryst which he had himself sought.

"Did he leave no message?" Nugent inquired, in a tone of perplexity that
sounded perfectly natural.

"He did that," replied Tuke. "I was to say that he was frightened to
wait about here on the shore lest the coppers should pinch him, but that
he would ask the captain, directly he got on board, to keep the yacht
out there for a bit, and to send the launch back for the lady. Then she
could come out to the steamer and bid him good-bye, and the launch could
put her ashore again afterwards."

Nugent turned impetuously to Violet. It was too dark for her to see the
expression on his face, but the quiver in his voice was eloquent of
hardly-restrained indignation. "Chermside must have lost his head or his
nerve," he said. "Though that is no excuse for such a want of
consideration. The request is outrageous. I will not worry you with my
sympathy, Miss Maynard, for I cannot trust myself to speak. Come! Let me
take you home without delay, for of course you will not accede to this
preposterous request."

"On the contrary, that is exactly what I mean to do--if the launch comes
for me," replied Violet, straining her wet eyes seaward through the
gloom. "You must remember that it was not to say farewell but to prevent
him from going that I came here, Mr. Nugent. I am very sensible of your
kindness in bringing me, and I regret Mr. Chermside's conduct as an
insult to you, even greater than to me. I will not ask you to remain
till I return from the steamer. If--if I am alone I shall prefer to make
my way home by myself."

"My duty to your father, who is my friend----" Nugent was beginning.

"I have my duty to myself, and to my affianced husband to consider,"
Violet cut him short. "Pray spare me an argument in my distress, Mr.
Nugent. My mind is quite made up to go out to the yacht."

And, as if to fortify her resolve, there sounded from the dark sea the
pulsing clack of the electric launch as it sped towards the shore. A few
moments later it had been skilfully beached, and