Landon was lighting a cigarette. He sucked in a full mouthful of smoke and shot it out again before he replied. The act was artificial--far too artificial, Miller told himself--in its indifference. "My underlings," he answered, "realize that they are well on the way to--what shall we say--a modest competency. Beyond that, their very finite understandings have not advanced. _Domani_ or _mañana_ are words frequent in their vocabularies, but not in relation to results. Comfortable procrastination--that is the whole sense which they appreciate in them." "Your own outlook is sufficiently intelligent to pierce beyond to-morrow," said the other, drily. "Certainly!" agreed Landon. "I dwell upon to-morrow, and the day after to-morrow, and the day after that! I engage in prescient revels in their rosy-tinted hours!" Miller made a little inarticulate sound which expressed a restrained but unequivocal irritation. "Shall we be business-like?" he proposed. "You have entrapped on board this boat three people, including myself. What advantage do you expect to get out of the situation and, bluntly, how?" "You are such a rigid man of affairs," complained Landon. "You refuse even to eat your breakfast without distractions." "I find myself in an extraordinary and unfamiliar situation," said Miller. "It is obvious that I wish to disentangle myself from it as soon as possible. Let me hear and accept or reject your terms. Is there any need to be mysterious?" "None," said Landon, amiably. "But I have not been a man of successful _coups_, so far, my dear friend, and you must not grudge me the unaccustomed zests I draw from this one. To clear the situation, I purpose holding you all three to ransom." "Where?" Landon laughed. "That you must allow me to consider a trade secret. I intend to retain your company and that of my cousin and my sister-in-law till I am richer by some forty thousand pounds. There you have the situation in a nutshell. I am willing to take the advice of such a finished man of the world as yourself on business methods. The end in view I cannot consent to vary." The gray man shrugged his shoulders. "You are of opinion that money will be paid for me? By whom?" "I can conceive two sources of supply. The German Government--pray don't allow yourself to be startled--or, in the last resort, yourself. You are not a poor man, unless you have grossly misused your opportunities." "The German Government has no interests of any kind in my well-being or otherwise." "I must take your word for it," said Landon, politely. "The alternative remains by us, literally." "Meanwhile, what about the laws of--whatever country you purpose using the shore of? We do not, I take it, remain afloat--a sort of modern Vanderdecken?" "Let me assure you that no laws or lawgivers will be of the slightest assistance. My friend Luigi and I propose being a law unto ourselves and you." "Ah."