"Oh, I am afraid," she muttered. "I don't like your going in. I don't like your doing this. I am sorry that I ever came." He laughed a little scornfully, and plunged in. She watched his head appear and disappear, her heart beating fast all the time. Once she lost sight of it altogether and screamed. Almost immediately he came up to the surface again, and turning round waved his hand to her. "I am all right," he sang out. "Going strong. It's quite easy." A few minutes later she saw him wading, and directly afterwards he stood upon the sands opposite to her. He waved his hand. She put her fingers to her lips and threw him a kiss. He pretended not to notice, and started off toward the village, and her low laugh came floating to him in a momentary lull of the wind. Half-way across the marshes he changed his course, clambered up a high bank on to the road, and turned toward the Hall. Barer than ever the great gaunt building seemed to stand out against the sky line, but from every window lights were flashing, and the windows of the dining-room seemed to reflect a perfect blaze of light. Andrew made his way to the back entrance, and entering unobserved, made his way up to his own room. * * * * * Dinner was over, and the little party of three were settling down to their coffee and cigarettes when the Princess' maid came down and whispered in her mistress' ear. The Princess turned to her host perplexed. "Has any one seen anything of Jeanne?" she inquired. "Reynolds has just told me that she has not returned at all." "I thought you said that she was lying down with a headache," Cecil interposed eagerly. "I thought so myself," the Princess answered. "Early this afternoon she told me that she had no sleep last night, that she had a very bad headache, and that she was going to bed. As a matter of fact she went out almost at once, and has not returned." Cecil was already on his way to the door. "We will send out into the village at once," he said, "and some one must go on the marshes. There are plenty of places there where it would have been absolutely unsafe for her in such a storm as we have had. Ring the bell, Forrest, will you?" Andrew stepped in and closed the door behind him. "It is not necessary," he said. "I can tell you all about Miss Le Mesurier." CHAPTER XIX There was a moment's breathless silence as Andrew stood there looking in upon the little group. Then he left his position at the door and came up to the table round which they were seated. "Madam," he said to the Princess, "your daughter is safe. She came down to the island this afternoon, and was unable to return owing to the storm." The Princess gave a little sigh of relief. "Foolish child!" she said. "But where is she now, Mr. Andrew?" "She is still at the island," Andrew answered. "It was impossible for her to leave, so I came here to tell you of her whereabouts." "It was extremely thoughtful of you," the Princess said graciously.