"It's all right," he said, raising his voice. "Please don't be alarmed! There has been a little accident in the engine-room. The captain hopes you won't let it interfere with your dancing." He placed himself in the thick of the strangely dressed crowd. His clean-shaven face was perfectly unconcerned. "I'll come and join you, if I may," he said. "The captain allows me to knock off. Will you admit a non-fancy-dresser?" He led the way below, calling for the orchestra as he went. The frightened crowd turned and followed as if in this one man who spoke with the voice of authority protection could be found. But they hung back from dancing, and after a pause the first-officer seized a banjo and proceeded to entertain them with comic songs. He kept it up for a while, and then Mrs. Langdale went nobly to his assistance and sang some Irish songs. One or two other volunteers presented themselves, and the evening's entertainment developed into a concert. The tension relaxed considerably as the time slipped by, but it did not wholly pass. It was noticed that the doctor was absent. A reluctance to disperse for the night was very manifestly obvious. About two hours after the first alarm the great ship thrilled as if in answer to some monster touch. The languid roll ceased. The engines started again firmly, regularly, with gradually rising speed. In less than a minute all was as it had been. A look of intense relief shot across the first-officer's quiet face. "That means 'All's well,'" he said, raising his voice a little. "Let us congratulate ourselves and turn in!" "There has been danger, then, Mr. Gresley?" queried Mrs. Granville, a lady who liked to know everything in detail. Mr. Gresley laughed with an indifference perfectly unaffected. "I believe the engineers thought so," he said. "I must refer you to them for particulars. Anyhow, it's all right now. I am going to tell the steward to bring coffee." He got up leisurely and strolled away. There was a slight commotion on the other side of the door as he opened it, a giggle that sounded rather hysterical. A moment later Lady Jane Grey; her head-gear gone, her shorn curls looking absurdly frivolous, walked mincingly into the saloon and subsided upon the nearest seat. She was attended by Captain Fisher, who looked anxious. "Such a misfortune!" she remarked, in a squeaky voice that sounded, somehow, a horrible strain. "I have been shut up in the Tower and have only just escaped. I trust I am not too late for my execution. I'm afraid I have kept you all waiting." All the heaviness of misgiving passed out of the atmosphere in a burst of merriment. "Where on earth have you been hiding?" shouted Major Granville. "I believe you have been playing the fool with us, you rascal." "I!" cried Charlie. "My dear sir, what are you thinking of? If you were to breathe such a suspicion as that to the captain he would clap me in irons for the rest of the voyage."