"Yes, that's the safe!" she said, joining in his laughter. "The miniature is pinned to the middle of the rug, between the straps where no one would think of looking for it. You're laughing, but I am superstitious where that miniature is concerned. It's a sort of talisman. . . ." For some time they spoke no further. The coast had disappeared from sight. The swell was increasing and the _Queen Mary_ was rolling a little. At this moment they were passing a beautiful white yacht. "That's the Comte de Bauge's _Castor_," cried one of the four boys. "She's on her way to Dieppe." Two ladies and two gentlemen were lunching under an awning, Isabel bowed her head so as to hide her face. This thoughtless movement displeased her; for, a moment later, she said (and all the words which they exchanged during these few minutes were to remain engraved on their memories): "Simon, you really believe, don't you, that I was entitled to leave home?" "Why," he exclaimed, in surprise, "don't we love each other?" "Yes, we love each other," she murmured. "And then there's the life which I was leading with a woman whose one delight was to insult my mother. . . ." She said no more. Simon had laid his hand on hers and nothing could reassure her more effectually than the fondness of that pressure. The four boys, who had disappeared again, came running back: "You can see the company's mail-boat that left Dieppe at the same time that we left Newhaven. She's called the _Pays de Caux_. We shall pass her in a quarter of an hour. So you see, mama, there's no danger." "Yes, but it's afterwards, when we get closer to Dieppe." "Why?" objected her husband. "The other boat hasn't signalled anything extraordinary. The danger is altering its position, moving farther away. . . ." The mother made no reply. Her face retained the same piteous expression. The little girl at her knee was still silently crying. The captain passed Simon and saluted. And a few more minutes elapsed. Simon was whispering words of love which Isabel did not catch very distinctly. The little girl's constant tears were causing her some distress. Shortly after, a gust of wind made the waves leap higher. Here and there streaks of white, seething foam appeared. There was nothing remarkable in this, as the wind was gaining in force and lashing the crests of the waves. But why did these foaming billows appear only in one part and that precisely the part which they were about to cross? The father and mother had risen to their feet. Other passengers were leaning over the rails. The captain was seen running up the poop-steps. And it came suddenly, in a moment.