It was a gorgeous night, without a breath of air, and as warm as in the tropics. As the man stood on the deck of the house-boat smoking a cigar and with his hands in his pockets, his thoughts traveled back to the many hardships he and his master had endured together in France during the three years he had served under him; of the tight corners they had more than once found themselves in; and of his master’s extraordinary coolness in moments of extreme crisis. “Ah, if they was all like him,” he said reflectively, “we should have an army, and no mistake!” For, like many another British Tommy who had been face to face with death alongside his officers, the fellow worshiped Preston. In such high esteem did he hold him, indeed, that sometimes his friends would grow weary of hearing “Captain Preston’s” many virtues extolled by the faithful servant, and curtly bid him “shut up.” It was nearly eleven when the man, half-dozing in a deck-chair, heard his name called. Instantly he sprang up. “Yes, sir? That you, sir? Nothing the matter, I hope, sir?” In the moonlight Preston and Yootha Hagerston could be seen standing together on the bank. “Are you alone, Tom?” Preston asked. His voice had a curious timbre. “Yes, sir. Doctor Johnson came to dinner, sir, but as you had not returned by nine o’clock I gave him dinner alone, sir.” “You did quite right.” After speaking a few words under his breath to Yootha, Preston came aboard alone, leaving her standing on the bank. “Tom,” he said in a low tone; “Miss Hagerston is in rather an embarrassing position. Things have happened which have prevented her returning to town with Mrs. Hartsilver, who was to have met her after leaving her friends, and there isn’t a bed to be had anywhere, and of course the last train to London has gone. There is nothing for it but for Miss Hagerston to sleep here, but nobody must know about it, you understand. Now, what can we arrange?” Tom rubbed his chin. Then suddenly he looked up. “I can sleep on deck, sir, in a deck-chair; very nice on a night like this. Then if you would sleep in my quarters, Miss Hagerston could have your quarters and be completely cut off, sir.” Preston reflected. “That seems the only solution,” he said at last. “But, as I say--nobody must know.” “Nobody shall know, sir.” “Right.” He turned, and called to Yootha to come aboard. Then he told her of the arrangement. She was pale, and looked greatly worried. There were dark marks under her eyes, and a casual acquaintance who had met her in the afternoon would hardly have believed her now to be the same woman. She was silent and _distraite_. “To-night’s adventure seems like a horrid nightmare,” she exclaimed a little later, suddenly gripping Preston’s arm. “What is it makes people so horrible, Charlie? All to-day we were so happy, and now----” She stopped abruptly, and a sob choked her. Preston put his arms about her, kissing her at first gently, then passionately, on the lips.