Again I fancied I caught a brief look of surprise, but it must have been very brief, for his face was as inscrutable as ever as he answered, "Do exactly as you like." A maid came with a jug of hot water and then I was alone. "I wonder if the man believes me?" I said to himself. "Things are going a little too dashed smoothly!" However, there was nothing for it now but playing the game out. I first took the precaution of suddenly and quietly opening the door. There was nobody at the key hole, so I took off my oilskin and put on the tweed coat, and then locked up the top drawer and put the key in my pocket. Hardly necessary to say that drawer remained as empty as the others. "I call that either a very neat dodge, or a devilish silly one," I said to myself. "And which it is depends entirely on the results." As I brushed my hair I thanked my stars I was fair, for a shave was now long overdue. "What a pirate I'd look if I were a brunette!" I thought, and as it was, the recollection of dainty Miss Rendall made me determined to borrow a razor forthwith. I foresaw that lunch would be a function demanding considerable tact. Seeing that I had decided, rightly or wrongly (and the Lord knew which!), not to trust these people, they had to be kept in a nice equilibrium betwixt doubt and confidence. To persuade them too thoroughly that they were entertaining a genuine British naval officer would be fatal if they were treasonably inclined, and a serious mistake if they were not, for then they might reassure the other islanders and my gang would go to earth, not to be dug up again in a hurry. On the other hand, to have them too suspicious would be all right if they were treasonable, but would probably end my adventure if they were honest. The line I selected was a blend of mystery regarding my business, breezy chat on non-committal topics, and an occasional oddity of conduct, such as might have been caused by a guilty conscience or a harmless strain of eccentricity (and I left them to make their choice). Here are a few choice excerpts from our conversation, which I happen to remember more or less verbatim. _Myself (chattily):_ "Delightful air you have in your island! Like champagne--or perhaps in these parts I ought to say like whisky and soda." _Mr. Rendall (somewhat drily_): "We do happen to be acquainted with champagne." _Miss Rendall (smiling pleasantly as she ate_): "We probably don't look as though we were, father. Mr. Merton's metaphor was safer." _Myself (feeling rather an ass, but outwardly gay):_ "I meant no reflection on your cellar, Miss Rendall. I was merely aiming at local colour." At this point I fell abruptly silent, the laugh, as it were, frozen on my lips. I gazed at my plate and then glanced furtively at my host (I was giving them their choice). The next fragment of conversation which I remember ran somewhat thus:--