He finished grimly, as it were, ferociously. “Don’t say that,” pleaded Rosie. He laughed. Then he lifted the little lantern and threw its ray on her face. She did not flinch. “You are very pale,” he remarked softly. “What do you expect?” she answered. “You have gone much further--very much further than I ever dreamt of. You have led me on.” “No,” he said, “it is your own kindness of heart, your sympathy with the unfortunate that has led you on. I assure you I was never so bold before I met you, before I appealed to you that night when you stood on your balcony. Do you regret? If you tell me to stop, to abandon my plans and depart--well, I will depart.” She smiled sadly. “I do not want you to do that,” she said. “Nevertheless, I tremble for what you have done.” “Do not tremble,” he said coaxingly. “If I am not safe here, where am I safe? Is not this the very last place where anyone would expect to find me and my--my booty?” “But, then, sending the servants away,” she exclaimed. “Nothing simpler,” he commented. “I don’t know how I did it,” she mused, as if aghast at the memory of what she had achieved; “and as for to-morrow, how I shall explain it to Pauline I really can’t imagine!” “To-morrow,” he said, “everything will be over one way or the other; you will be able to resume your habit of speaking the truth. By the way,” he went on, in a tone carefully careless, “you managed to do what I asked you with the boat?” “Yes,” she replied. “Did you meet anyone?” “Not a soul.” “And you pulled the plug out and cut the boat: adrift?” “Pulled the plug out and cut the boat adrift!” she repeated after him, amazed. “No; you never told me to do that!” “Pardon me,” he said, “that was the most important thing of all. It is essential that there should be no trace of the boat.” “I didn’t understand,” she faltered. “I’m so sorry. I never heard----” “I regret I didn’t make myself more clear,” he remarked. “You see, at intervals during the night the watchmen do their patrols, and I know there is a regular inspection of the terrace. Supposing the boat is seen?” “I really don’t remember, that you asked me to do that,” she persisted. “Anyhow,” he said politely, “what you have done deserves all my praise and gratitude. But----” “You would like me to go and sink the boat, wouldn’t you?” “I hesitate to ask you. It is really too much----” “Yes, yes,” she said passionately. “I will go and do it--alone.” Then she paused. “But suppose I meet the patrol?” “You are you,” was Jetsam’s response. “You are the President’s cousin. You have the right to amuse yourself with a boat, at no matter what hour of the day or night.” “Just so,” she admitted. “I will go now. I shall be back quite soon. Shall you be ready by the time I return?” “Yes,” he said. “Everything is all right?” She seemed to question him anxiously. “Quite all right,” he said; “Let me thank you again.”