"I don't see any difference," he announced. "You look just as big and disreputable as ever." Then with a happy chuckle he stepped forward again and gripped me by the arm. "Did you know I was here?" he demanded. "I've never written to tell you; I've been so devilish busy." "It wasn't altogether a surprise," I admitted. "I've been having a talk with Mrs. Summers, and she gave me all the latest society gossip." "Ah!" he said, nodding his head; "that accounts for it. I thought you weren't half as pleased and excited as you ought to have been." "Pleased!" I echoed. "Why, I'm so pleased to see you, Bobby, that I simply daren't give way to my feelings. I should burst into tears if I did." "Well, don't do it here," he retorted. "Come along up to the pub and we'll sob comfortably on each other's necks." "I can't sob comfortably in a pub," I said. "I am going to take you back to Greensea, and fill you up on roast duck." "What do you mean?" he asked, letting go my arm. "That's right, Capting," put in Jimmy, who had been listening to our conversation with the utmost interest. "The gen'leman lives on Greensea Island, don't, 'e, boys?" There was a shrill chorus of assent from the two others. "You live on Greensea Island?" repeated Bobby, staring at me. Then as a sort of after-thought he added blankly: "Well I'm damned!" "Never mind," I said. "You'll have lots of nice people to keep you company." He took the painter from Jimmy, and jerked his head in the direction of the boat. "Jump in," he commanded sternly. "I've got an appointment with a fellow ashore, but he'll jolly well have to wait. I'm going to get to the bottom of this, if it costs me my commission." There was a masterly ring in his voice which woke up all my latent sense of discipline. I drew myself up in a mock salute, and stepped down obediently into the stern sheets. "Look after the dinghy for me, Jimmy," I called out. "I'll come back for it this afternoon." Tossing the painter ahead of him, Bobby followed me on board. He started the engine with a quick jerk of the handle, and then, coming aft, took possession of the wheel. The next moment we were backing slowly out from the jetty, and heading round towards the mouth of the creek. "Now, my son," he remarked, "this is your picnic. You give the orders, and I'll carry 'em out." "Take her straight across to the island," I said. "You'll find my private landing-stage exactly opposite." He paused for a moment with his hand on the throttle. "You haven't gone mad by any chance, I suppose, Jack?" he enquired casually. I shook my head. "It's quite all right," I said. "I'll explain everything when we've had some lunch." With a turn of his hand Bobby set us going, and, gliding rapidly down the creek, he ran out into the estuary. He made no further remark until we were three-quarters of the way over, when he glanced sideways at me from under his cap.