She laughed at Captain Ackinson, and her husband continued his dinner in silence. Mr. Sabin made a mental note of two things--first, that Mr. Watson did not treat his wife with that consideration which is supposed to be distinctive of American husbands, and secondly, that he drank a good deal of wine without becoming even a shade more amiable. His wife somewhat pointedly drank water, and turning her right shoulder upon her husband, devoted herself to the entertainment of her two companions. At the conclusion of the meal the captain was her abject slave, and Mr. Sabin was quite willing to admit that Mrs. J. B. Watson, whatever her nationality might be, was a very charming woman. After dinner Mr. Sabin went to his lower state room for an overcoat, and whilst feeling for some cigars, heard voices in the adjoining room, which had been empty up to now. "Won't you come and walk with me, James?" he heard Mrs. Watson say. "It is such a nice evening, and I want to go on deck." "You can go without me, then," was the gruff answer. "I'm going to have a cigar in the smoke-room." "You can smoke," she reminded him, "on deck." "Thanks," he replied, "but I don't care to give my Laranagas to the winds. You would come here, and you must do the best you can. You can't expect to have me dangling after you all the time." There was a silence, and then the sound of Mr. Watson's heavy tread, as he left the state room, followed in a moment or two by the light footsteps and soft rustle of silk skirts, which indicated the departure also of his wife. Mr. Sabin carefully enveloped himself in an ulster, and stood for a moment or two wondering whether that conversation was meant to be overheard or not. He rang the bell for the steward. The man appeared almost immediately. Mr. Sabin had known how to ensure prompt service. "Was it my fancy, John? or did I hear voices in the state room opposite?" Mr. Sabin asked. "Mr. and Mrs. Watson have taken it, sir," the man answered. Mr. Sabin appeared annoyed. "You know that some of my clothes are hung up there," he remarked, "and I have been using it as a dressing-room. There are heaps of state-rooms vacant. Surely you could have found them another?" "I did my best, sir," the man answered, "but they seemed to take a particular fancy to that one. I couldn't get them off it nohow." "Did they know," Mr. Sabin asked carelessly, "that the room opposite was occupied?" "Yes, sir," the man answered. "I told them that you were in number twelve, and that you used this as a dressing-room, but they wouldn't shift. It was very foolish of them, too, for they wanted two, one each; and they could just as well have had them together." "Just as well," Mr. Sabin remarked quietly. "Thank you, John. Don't let them know I have spoken to you about it." "Certainly not, sir." Mr. Sabin walked upon deck. As he passed the smoke-room he saw Mr. Watson stretched upon a sofa with a cigar in his mouth. Mr. Sabin smiled to himself, and passed on.