He seemed absolutely crushed by the realisation of Jean Briggerland's deed, and he did not speak again for a long time. "I'm glad I know," he said at last. "Do you really think that all this time she has been trying to kill me?" He nodded. "She has used everybody, even me," he said bitterly. "I don't want you to think badly of me, Mrs. Meredith, but I'm going to tell you the truth. I'd provisioned this little yacht to-day for a twelve hundred mile trip, and you were to be my companion." "I?" she said incredulously. "It was Jean's idea, really, though I think she must have altered her view, or thought I had forgotten all she suggested. I intended taking you out to sea and keeping you out there until you agreed----" he shook his head. "I don't think I could have done it really," he said, speaking half to himself. "I'm not really built for a conspirator. None of that rough stuff ever appealed to me. Well, I didn't try, anyway." "No, Mr. Stepney," she said quietly, "and I don't think, if you had, you would have succeeded." He was in his frankest mood, and startled her later when he told her of his profession, without attempting to excuse or minimise the method by which he earned his livelihood. "I was in a pretty bad way, and I thought there was easy money coming, and that rather tempted me," he said. "I know you will think I am a despicable cad, but you can't think too badly of me, really." He surveyed the shore. Ahead of them the green tongue of Cap Martin jutted out into the sea. "I think I'll take you to Nice," he said. "We'll attract less attention there, and probably I'll be able to get into touch with your old Mr. Jaggs. You've no idea where I can find him? At any rate, I can go to the Villa Casa and discover what sort of a yarn is being told." "And probably I can get my clothes dry," she said with a little grimace. "I wonder if you know how uncomfortable I am?" "Pretty well," he said calmly. "Every time I move a new stream of water runs down my back." It was half-past three in the afternoon when they reached Nice, and Marcus saw the girl safely to an hotel, changed himself and brought the yacht back to Monaco, where Briggerland had seen him. For two hours Marcus Stepney wrestled with his love for a girl who was plainly a murderess, and in the end love won. When darkness fell he provisioned the _Jungle Queen_, loaded her with petrol, and heading her out to sea made the swimming cove of Cap Martin. It was to the boat that Jean flew. "What about my father?" she asked as she stepped aboard. "I think they've caught him," said Marcus. "He'll hate prison," said the girl complacently. "Hurry, Marcus, I'd hate it, too!" Chapter XL Lydia took up her quarters in a quiet hotel in Nice and Mrs. Cole-Mortimer agreed to stay on and chaperon her. Though she had felt no effects from her terrifying experience on the first day, she found herself a nervous wreck when she woke in the morning, and wisely decided to stay in bed.