"'Mid pleasures an' palaces----'" he began, when Senhora De Sylva came upon him as he sat on a fence, pipe in hand, with his back braced comfortably against a magnificent rosewood tree. He stopped, grinned sheepishly, and, not recognizing the lady, tried to cover his confusion by lighting the pipe. "Are you one of the _Andromeda's_ men?" asked Carmela, speaking in the clear and accurate English used by her father. It was well for Watts that the tree prevented him from falling backwards. He was quite sober, but cheerful withal, as he had nothing to do but sleep, smoke, eat, and drink the light wine of the district, of which his only complaint was that "one might mop up a barrel of it an' get no forrarder." Nevertheless, he received a positive shock when addressed in his own language by a young woman who was obviously of Brazil. He stared at her so hard that he forgot the steady progress of the slow-burning tand-stikkor match recently ignited. Its sulphurous flame reached his fingers and reminded him. "My godfather!" he howled, springing from the rail, and recovering his wits instantly. "Beg pardon, mum, but you took me aback all standin' as the saying is. Christopher, didn't that match wake me up!" "I am afraid it is my fault," said Carmela, who could look sympathetic where Iris would want to laugh. "I have just arrived here, and everybody seems to be so full of troubles that I am glad to hear you singing." "Oh, that's just hummin', mum. If you're fond of music you ought to 'ear Schmidt, Captain Schmidt of the _Unser Fritz_----" Carmela struck an attitude. "Wot, d'ye know 'im?" asked Watts. "No, it is something--rather important. I must go back to my father. Ah, I ought to explain. I am the Senhora De Sylva, Dom Corria's daughter." "Are you really, mum,--miss?" exclaimed Watts, highly interested. "'Ow in the world did ye manage to come up from the coast? Accordin' to all accounts----" "Yes, what were you going to say?" for the man hesitated. "Well, some of our chaps will 'ave it that we're runnin' close-hauled on a lee shore." Carmela knit her brows. The Watts idioms were not those of her governess. "We had no great difficulty in passing through Dom Barraca's lines, if that is what you mean," she said. "Mr. Verity and Mr. Bulmer had obtained special permits, but in my case----" "Mr. 'oo, did you say, miss?" demanded Watts, whose lower jaw actually dropped from sheer amazement. "Mr. Verity, the owner of the _Andromeda_. You are one of the crew, I suppose?" "I'm the chief officer. Watts is my name, miss. But d'you mean to tell me that ole David Verity 'as come 'ere--to Brazil--to this rotten . . . Sorry, miss, but you gev' me a turn, you did. An' Dickey Bulmer--is _'e_ 'ere too?" "Yes, or he soon will be here. I rode on in advance of the others."