Her aunt laughed softly. The intrigue and romance of it all entertained her. She had the sense of having made a very pretty concession to her niece, of having accomplished a very agreeable pleasure trip for herself. As for young Sabron, he would be sure to be discovered at the right moment, to be lionized, decorated and advanced. The reason that she had no wrinkles on her handsome cheek was because she went lightly through life. "He thinks, my dearest girl, that you are like all your countrywomen: a little eccentric and that you have a strong mind. He thinks you one of the most tender-hearted and benevolent of girls." "_Ma tante, ma tante!_" "He thinks you are making a little mission into Algiers among the sick and the wounded. He thinks you are going to sing in the hospitals." "But," exclaimed the girl, "he must think me mad." "Young men don't care how mildly mad a beautiful young woman is, my dear Julia." "But, he will find out ... he will know." "No," said the marquise, "that he will not. I have attended to that. He will not leave his boat during the excursion, Julia. He remains, and we go on shore with our people." "How splendid!" sighed Julia Redmond, relieved. "I'm glad you think so," said her aunt rather shortly. "Now I have a favor to ask of you, my child." Julia trembled. "_Ma tante?_" "While we are on board the yacht you will treat Robert charmingly." "I am always polite to him, am I not?" "You are like an irritated sphinx to him, my dear. You must be different." "I thought," said the girl in a subdued voice, "that it would be like this. Oh, I wish I had sailed on any vessel, even a cargo vessel." Looking at her gently, her aunt said: "Don't be ridiculous. I only wish to protect you, my child. I think I have proved my friendship. Remember, before the world you are nothing to Charles de Sabron. A woman's heart, my dear, has delusions as well as passions." The girl crimsoned and bowed her charming head. "You are not called upon to tell Robert de Tremont that you are in love with a man who has not asked you to marry him, but you are his guest, and all I ask of you is that you make the voyage as agreeable to him as you can, my dear." Tremont was coming toward them. Julia raised her head and murmured: "I thank you for everything. I shall do what I can." And to herself she said: "That is, as far as my honor will let me." CHAPTER XVI THE DUKE IN DOUBT The short journey to Africa--over a calm and perfect sea, whose waters were voices at her port to solace her, and where the stars alone glowed down like friends upon her and seemed to understand--was a torture to Julia Redmond. To herself she called her aunt cruel, over and over again, and felt a prisoner, a caged creature.