'There!' cried the young lady, 'that is the substance of the thing. Of course, I may amplify a little more before we get to Queenstown, so as to make them pay more money. People don't value a thing that doesn't cost them dearly. How do you like it? Is it correct?' 'Perfectly correct,' answered the miserable young man. 'Oh, I am so glad you like it! I do love to have things right.' 'I didn't say I _liked_ it.' 'No, of course, you couldn't be expected to say that; but I am glad you think it is accurate. I will add a note to the effect that you think it is a good _résumé_ of your report.' 'For Heaven's sake, don't drag me into the matter!' cried Wentworth. 'Well, I won't, if you don't want me to.' There was silence for a few moments, during which the young woman seemed to be adding commas and full-stops to the MS. on her knee. Wentworth cleared his throat two or three times, but his lips were so dry that he could hardly speak. At last he said: 'Miss Brewster, how can I induce you not to send that from Queenstown to your paper?' The young woman looked up at him with a pleasant bright smile. 'Induce me? Why, you couldn't do it--it couldn't be done. This will be one of the greatest triumphs I have ever achieved. Think of Rivers failing in it, and me accomplishing it!' 'Yes; I have thought of that,' replied the young man despondently. 'Now, perhaps you don't know that the full report was mailed from Ottawa to our house in London, and the moment we get to Queenstown I will telegraph my partners to put the report in the hands of the directors?' 'Oh, I know all about that,' replied Miss Brewster; 'Rivers told me. He read the letter that was enclosed with the documents he took from your friend. Now, have you made any calculations about this voyage?' 'Calculations? I don't know what you mean.' 'Well, I mean just this: We shall probably reach Queenstown on Saturday afternoon. This report, making allowance for the difference in the time, will appear in the _Argus_ on Sunday morning. Your telegram will reach your house or your firm on Saturday night, when nothing can be done with it. Sunday nothing can be done. Monday morning, before your report will reach the directors, the substance of what has appeared in the _Argus_ will be in the financial papers, cabled over to London on Sunday night. The first thing your directors will see of it will be in the London financial papers on Monday morning. That's what I mean, Mr. Wentworth, by calculating the voyage.' Wentworth said no more. He staggered to his feet and made his way as best he could to the state-room, groping like a blind man. There he sat down with his head in his hands, and there his friend Kenyon found him. CHAPTER IX. 'Tell me what has happened,' demanded John Kenyon. Wentworth looked up at him. 'Everything has happened,' he answered. 'What do you mean, George? Are you ill? What is the matter with you?'