n yourself
more kind. For instance, in the matter of her table in the
dining-room--"

"The lady has expressed a desire to remain quite alone, my dear
sir. I must bow to her will. It is her privilege to come and go
as she likes."

"She may come and go as she likes?" queried Dunwody, still smiling.
There was a look on his face which caused Carlisle suddenly to turn
and examine him sharply.

"Naturally."

"Without your consent, even?"

"Absolutely so."

"Then why should she have sent me this little message?" demanded
Dunwody suddenly. He presented a folded bit of paper, snapping it
on the back with a finger.

A still deeper flush spread over the young officer's telltale face.
He opened and read: "If you care to aid a woman who is in trouble,
come to me at room 19 when you can."

"When did you receive this?" he demanded. "By God!" he added, to
himself, "she did it, too!"

"Within the moment. Her maid brought it."

"You didn't have this before you came on board--but of course, that
wasn't possible."

Dunwody looked at him keenly. "You have just heard me," he said.
"No, I don't deny there are some things here which I can't
understand. You are covering up something, my dear Captain, of
course, but just what I do not know. Your station in life, your
presence in this country, so far from home!--" He smiled now in a
way which his antagonist considered sinister. Yet what defense
could be made without exposing secrets which were not his to
uncover?

"Come," went on Dunwody, "let's be frank about it. You may trust
me, of course. But--neither sister, wife, nor servant--could you
blame any man, especially any man who had a direct message like
this, for wanting, or, say, even demanding a meeting? Haven't I
the right? Come, now!"

Carlisle made no immediate answer, and was about to turn on his
heel, finding it hard to restrain himself. He paused, however.

"Very good, then. To show how little you know me, and how much you
wrong both this lady and myself, you shall meet her, as you say.
Not that you have earned the right."

CHAPTER III

THE QUESTION

The _Mount Vernon_, favored by a good stage of water, soon cleared
the narrow Monongahela channel, passed the confluence, and headed
down under full steam, all things promising well for a speedy and
pleasant run. The sky was blue and cloudless, and the air fresh
with the tang of coming autumn. Especially beautiful were the
shores which they