“Sit down”; he repeated, but there was no answer. Through the thick panes of one of the round windows, the mate was staring across the lashed waters at the foot of the promontory whereon the “Station” stood, his square chin thrust forward, his resolute lips compressed. “Keeping the Penvan light east-southeast, and having the South Bay Rock west by north, we should have found the gullet even in such weather,” he said, slowly, without looking again at Salvières. “Yes,” the latter assented. “Who was master?” He had sent a message to the doctor to come as soon as he could, and now stood motionless beside the sailor. “Captain Braines--an Englishman, who had never made a mistake in seamanship--stainless record.” The tone was monotonous but convincing. “Yes,” Salvières said again, “but don’t speak now; wait till you feel better.” And he handed him the tumbler the captain of the life-station had just brought. “I can answer your questions now, sir.” “Better not till a bit later. Ah, here’s the doctor”; and, pulling off his coat, Salvières prepared to assist him. An hour after, as Salvières and his cousin were stepping upon the Castle esplanade, a footman--fighting the wind, his powdered head bent to the blast and much the worse for wear--met them at a run, clutching a telegram tightly in his fist. “What now!” grumbled Salvières, taking refuge in a mullioned doorway and tearing the envelope open with his damp fingers. Am coming to you at once. Received infamous news in Shanghai from my agent. Send wireless as soon as feasible P.O.S.S. _Mondoria_, giving latest facts and destination of _Wild Rose_ in cipher. Make all possible inquiries meanwhile. Basil. Salvières stared for a full minute at the paper trembling in his hand, and then passed it silently to Régis. His sou’wester pushed back, his blond mustache falling on both sides of his mouth _à la Vercingetorix_, the Marquis de Plenhöel said nothing at all, very emphatically. “Right you are!” assented Salvières, just as if he had spoken. “Come, we have work to do.” As, indeed, they had, and, following the line of least resistance, they finally found themselves engulfed by a side entrance.