Staff managed to overcome an impulse to laugh idiotically, and gravely shook hands with the captain. He had already exchanged a glance with the lady of his heart's desire. An insanely awkward pause marked Iff's exhibition of matchless impudence. Each hesitated to speak while the captain was occupied with a vain attempt to make Iff realise his position by scowling at him out of a blood-congested countenance. But of this, Iff appeared to be wholly unconscious. When the situation seemed all but unendurable for another second (Staff for one was haunted by the fear that he would throw back his head and bray like a mule) Manvers took it upon himself to ease the tension, hardily earning the undying gratitude of all the gathering. "I asked Mr. Staff to come and tell you, sir," he said haltingly, "that I spoke to him about this matter the very night we left Queenstown--asked him to do what he could to make Miss Landis appreciate--" "I see," the captain cut him short. "That is so," Staff affirmed. "Unfortunately I had no opportunity until this afternoon--" Alison interposed quietly: "I am quite ready to exonerate Mr. Manvers from all blame. In fact, he has really annoyed me with his efforts to induce me to turn the collar over to his care." "Thank you," said Manvers bowing. There was the faintest tinge of sarcasm in the acknowledgment. Staff could see that Alison felt and resented it; and the thought popped into his mind, and immediately out again, that she was scarcely proving herself generous. "It's a very serious matter," announced the captain heavily--"serious for the service: for the officers, for the good name of the ship, for the reputation of the company. This is the second time a crime of this nature had been committed aboard the Autocratic within a period of eighteen months--less than that, in fact. It was June, a year ago, that Mrs. Burden Hamman's jewels were stolen--on the eastbound passage, I believe." "We sailed from New York, June 22," affirmed the purser. "I want, therefore," continued the captain, "to ask you all to preserve silence about this affair until it has been thoroughly sifted. I believe the knowledge of the theft is confined to those present." "Quite so, sir," agreed the purser. "May I ask how it happened?" Staff put in. The captain swung on his heel and bowed to Alison. She bent forward, telling her story with brevity and animation.