"Because you are a monomaniac," retorted the Duchess, angrily; "you seem to think that I am the cause of the doctor's exile. I, of all people, who would not hurt a fly." "You would hurt a dozen flies if anything was to be gained," snapped the other, irritably. "You betrayed my Constantine." "I did nothing of the sort, as he will understand when he hears what I have to say." "Hearing and believing are two different things, Lady James." Leah shrugged away the speech. "Of course, you are prejudiced, because Demetrius loves me." Mademoiselle Aksakoff fetched a long, deep breath. "Do not try me too far." "Do you intend to assault me again?" "No; I even apologise for the blow. I told Constantine this morning of my interview, and he said that I was wrong. It is for him to deal you justice and punishment." "Punishment! Justice!" Leah laughed aloud in sheer rage at her inability to parry these insults. "And for what, pray?" "Constantine will tell you." "In that case I do not wish a second-hand judgment from you." The two glared at one another, venomous and defiant. As usual, the younger woman's eyes fell first, and she retreated to the furthermost corner of the carriage, while Leah, pulling down her veil, tried to face this most disagreeable situation. Not another word did they exchange until the ducal servants branched off at Shenfield Junction, and they had to be publicly amiable. Then, again, silence reigned until their destination was reached. By that time Leah was more her old insolent self, and disposed to be unpleasant. "Will yon drive or walk?" asked Katinka, coldly, when they alighted on the Southend platform. "Walk, of course. I do not mind at all being recognised, since I have come to see your father on board this yacht." "Captain Strange would be flattered by your description." The Duchess laughed contemptuously as they stepped into the street. "I am scarcely responsible for M. Aksakoff's notion of a yacht. Foreigners are so ignorant." "They are not so clever as Englishmen--or Englishwomen." "Except in trickery and blackmail, where they surpass them," retorted Leah, her petty rage insisting on having the last word. Katinka permitted her the gratification, and they walked the whole length of the High Street in grim silence. At a rude quay jutting from the beach of the lower town they boarded a disreputable boat, rowed by two pirates and steered by a third. The night was starry but moonless, comparatively calm, and noticeably chilly. Leah shivered as the boat made for a vivid green riding-light, which shone, an emerald star, no great distance from the shore. But her shiver might have been an admission of dread. Katinka took it to be so, and smiled in a gratified way as her enemy climbed the side of the steamer, which was a veritable gypsy of the sea, untidy, dirty, and decidedly questionable in honest eyes. Strange did the honours, loud-tongued and raucous. "Guess it do my eyes good to see your Grace," was his welcome.