My cousin Jack spoke first. "Good Lord, _you_ of all people, Roger!" "My dear Jack!" I cried, and then I checked myself and shut that door. "Well," said my cousin, with more candour than politeness, "I always thought you would end in gaol, Roger, and you've had a dashed near squeak this time, let me tell you. What new form of lunacy have you bust out into?" His eye fell on my revolver. "And what are you doing with that thing? If it's going to be suicide, let me fetch in a witness before you begin. I hate being found alone with a body." "Is that your ship?" I demanded. "She's one of 'em. I'm boss of a few dozen of these floating palaces at present. In fact we're a patrol and I've caught you red-handed on my own beat, and what I want to know is what the devil are you doing on it? Not trying to elope with that little bit of fluff, I hope, because I can assure you she doesn't love you in the least, Roger." "You mean well, old thing," I said, "but you've guessed wrong as usual, Jack. Take me to your ship, for the Lord's sake, and I'll tell you the whole yarn there." "These good people probably expect a bit of explanation," he suggested. "The Rendalls? Not yet! Wait till you've heard everything yourself. Tell 'em then if you like--but I don't think you will." He looked at me curiously. "Well," said he, "let's be off then. Don't you even want to say good-bye?" "I'll send them a Christmas card," I said. "What, after all the trouble they've taken to round you up?" "Do you mean to say they sent for you?" "Rather! Urgent wire." The prospect of facing my grim host and his disdainful daughter struck me forcibly as less pleasing than ever. "Come on!" I said. "I'm going to bolt!" We went downstairs and out of the front door like a couple of burglars. The Commander did not appear to relish this performance particularly, but I went first and he had to keep pace with me. At the door we found the escort provided for me, and very surprised they looked as they followed us to see their Commander so unaccountably intimate with his captive; but fortunately there was no sign of the laird or his daughter. I looked round me and felt sure I saw a well known slip of a figure standing against the weather beaten wall of the old mansion, gazing after us--with what sensations? I wondered very much. "When did they wire for you?" I asked. "Somewhere round about mid-day." "And what did they say?" "'They'?" repeated my cousin. "Why drag in the fair Miss Rendall? Her father did the wiring. At least I presume so." "Assuming he did, what did he say?" "Suspicious stranger come to Ransay--gave incorrect account of himself--that was the gist of it. Oh, he used the word 'urgent' I remember." "Incorrect account? That was probably after they had picked the lock of my drawer and had something to go upon." Again my cousin looked at me curiously. "This sounds interesting," he said, and quickened his stride.