The same almost ghostlike stillness continued, orders were passed backward and forward in whispers. The men walked backward and forward on tip-toe. And then suddenly, without any warning, they passed out into the clear air, the mist rolled away, the sun shone down upon them again, and the decks dried as though by magic. Cheerful voices broke in upon the chill and unnatural silence. The machinery recommenced to throb, and the passengers who had finished lunch went upon deck. Every one was attracted at once by the sight of a large white steamer about a mile on the starboard side. Mr. Watson joined the captain, who was examining her through his glass. "Man-of-war, isn't she?" he inquired. The captain nodded. "Not much doubt about that," he answered; "look at her guns. The odd part of it is, too, she is flying no flag. We shall know who she is in a minute or two, though." Mr. Sabin descended the steps on his way to a late luncheon. As he turned the corner he came face to face with Mr. Watson, whose eyes were fixed upon the coming steamer with a very curious expression. "Man-of-war," Mr. Sabin remarked. "You look as though you had seen her before." Mr. Watson laughed harshly. "I should like to see her," he remarked, "at the bottom of the sea." Mr. Sabin looked at him in surprise. "You know her, then?" he remarked. "I know her," Mr. Watson answered, "too well. She is the _Kaiser Wilhelm_, and she is going to rob me of twenty thousand pounds." CHAPTER XLIV THE GERMANS ARE ANNOYED Mr. Sabin ate his luncheon with unimpaired appetite and with his usual care that everything of which he partook should be so far as possible of the best. The close presence of the German man-of-war did not greatly alarm him. He had some knowledge of the laws and courtesies of maritime life, and he could not conceive by what means short of actual force he could be inveigled on board of her. Mr. Watson's last words had been a little disquieting, but he probably held an exaggerated opinion as to the powers possessed by his employers. Mr. Sabin had been in many tighter places than this, and he had sufficient belief in the country of his recent adoption to congratulate himself that it was an English boat on which he was a passenger. He proceeded to make himself agreeable to Mrs. Watson, who, in a charming costume of blue and white, and a fascinating little hat, had just come on to luncheon. "I have been talking," he remarked, after a brief pause in their conversation, "to your husband this morning." She looked up at him with a meaning smile upon her face. "So he has been telling me." "I hope," Mr. Sabin continued gently, "that your advice to him--I take it for granted that he comes to you for advice--was in my favour." "It was very much in your favour," she answered, leaning across towards him. "I think that you knew it would be." "I hoped at least----"