The idiot is
sure to try fifty ways of getting his accounts straight before he lights
on my little cheque; and when he does, I've covered my tracks pretty
well. My dear brother hasn't the slightest notion what's become of me.
I dare say he'll stop making inquiries as soon as the police begin. Poor
old chap! He'll feel it about the family name, and so on.'

He smiled at his own reflection in the mirror over the chimneypiece. He
was evidently well satisfied with the performance he had narrated. Then
at last Hyacinth found himself able to speak. Again, as when he had
defeated Dr. Spenser in the college lecture-room, his own coolness
surprised him.

'You're an infernal blackguard!' he said.

Captain Quinn looked at him with a surprise that was perfectly genuine.
He doubted if he could have heard correctly.

'What did you say?'

'I said,' repeated Hyacinth, 'you are an infernal blackguard!'

'Did you really suppose that I would be going on this fool of an
expedition if I wasn't?'

'I shall tell Miss Goold the story you have just told me. I shall tell
her to-morrow morning before the boat sails.'

'Very well,' said the Captain; 'but don't suppose for a moment that
you'll shock Finola. She doesn't know this particular story about me,
but I expect she knows another every bit as bad, and I dare say she will
regard the whole thing as a justifiable spoiling of the Egyptians. By
the way '--there was a note of anxiety in his voice--'I hope you won't
find it necessary to repeat anything I've said about the lady herself.
_That_ might irritate her.'

'Is it likely,' said Hyacinth, 'that I would repeat that kind of talk to
any woman?'

'Quite so. I admire your attitude. Such things are entirely unfit for
repetition. But seriously, now, what on earth do you expect to happen
when you tell her? I'm perfectly certain that every single volunteer
she's got is just as great a blackguard--your word, my dear fellow--as I
am, and Finola knows it perfectly well.'

Hyacinth hesitated. The phrase in Miss Goold's letter in which she had
originally described her men as blackguards recurred to his mind. He
remembered the story of Doherty. His anger began to give way to a sick
feeling of disgust.

'Think, now,' said the Captain: 'is it likely that you could enlist a
corps of Sunday-school teachers for this kind of work? I'll give you
credit for the highest motives, though I'm blest if I understand them;
but how can you suppose that ther