“Ah, Miss Wareham,” came the deferential answer, “ten thousand pardons. I thought I was addressing the watch on your vessel.” Miss Wareham said something in sharp low tones to someone behind her and replied: “Will not I do as well? I was in hopes you were coming to see me, Captain Macedo.” “I am on duty now, not on pleasure, alas. Did not a boat approach your yacht just now?” The keen reflector shone full on Joao and on Henderson as he stood on the gangway. “Certainly,” Milly said. “One of my friends has just come to call on me. He is under my permit, I sent it ashore to him. Can’t you come up a moment and meet him, Captain Macedo?” The officer muttered something and then after a flood of apologies uttered in a very vexed tone, the launch sheered off and bustled away. Henderson went up the steps of the gangway and a rather conventional greeting passed between him and his hostess. She said something to the officer of the yacht and he disappeared into his quarters. The man on watch was well forward, the maid sat under the farthest corner of the awning, and Milly motioned him to a seat, herself sinking into her deck-chair. He could not see her well by the cool starlight, but her voice was friendly as her prompt action had been, and he was advised of the presence of the kitten in her lap by its loud purring. He took courage. “I have much to thank you for, Milly,” he said, half hesitating over the old pet name. “I was in a tight place but for your sharpness.” “I hope I shall be forgiven for my falsehoods,” she said. “But that is not what I want to talk to you about. I have heard about you on shore and I am very much concerned. Sammy Roland had a great deal to say of you. He tells me that everyone feels in the air the presence of plots to overthrow Fonseca as he did with the emperor, and Sammy says that the conspirators are buying arms and ammunition and that it is whispered about that you are the chief of the foreign agents engaged in this dangerous speculation. I am worried beyond expression to think of the risks you run if this is true.” John looked her straight in the eyes and she returned his gaze silently. After some breaths he spoke. “I know I ought to deny totally your insinuations, but I can not help trusting you, Milly.” “God knows,” she said, “you can trust me utterly.” “And I will,” he replied. “This puts not only myself but others in your power. You must not breathe a word of it, Milly. I am on just the business you have heard of and on others like it. The profits are something enormous and the risk is proportional. If I had not found refuge behind your subterfuge and quickness I should be now under the certainty of being shot before daylight.” “Oh, not so bad as that, Jack,” she exclaimed in an excited whisper. “They would never shoot an American citizen that way.”