As soon as he had settled that, he got out his cheque-book from the despatch-box, in which he had placed it for his own security, and, sitting down just as he was, drew another fifteen minutes, and cashed them, like the first, at the ormolu clock.... This time he found himself sitting on a cushioned bench in the music-room of the _Boomerang_. It was shortly after sunset, as he could tell from the bar of dusky crimson against the violet sea, which, framed in the ports opposite, rose and sank with each roll of the ship. There was a swell on, and she rolled more than he could have wished. As he expected, he was not alone; but, as he had _not_ expected, his companion was neither Miss Tyrrell nor Miss Davenport, but a grim and portly matron, who was eyeing him with a look of strong disfavour, which made Peter wish he had not come. "What," he wondered, "was he in for now?" His uneasiness was increased as he glanced down upon his trousers, which, being new and of a delicate lavender tint, reminded him that in his impatience he had come away in his wedding garments. He feared that he must present rather an odd appearance on board ship in this festal attire; but there he would have to stay for the next quarter of an hour, and he must make the best of it. "I repeat, Mr. Tourmalin," said the matron, "you are doubtless not unprepared for the fact that I have requested a few minutes' private conversation with you?" "Pardon me," said Peter, quaking already at this alarming opening, "but I am--very much unprepared." "Surely," he thought, "this could not be _another_ dear friend? No, that was too absurd--he must have drawn the line _somewhere_!" "Then permit me to enlighten you," she said raspingly. "I sent for you, at a time when we are least likely to be interrupted, to demand an explanation from you upon a very delicate and painful matter which has recently come to my knowledge." "_Oh!_" said Peter--and nothing more. He guessed her purpose at once: she was going to ask him his intentions with regard to her daughter! He could have wished for some indication as to whether she was Lady Tyrrell or Mrs. Davenport; but, as he had none at present, "Oh" seemed the safest remark to make. "Life on board a large passenger-ship, Mr. Tourmalin," she went on to observe, "though relaxed in some respects, is still not without decencies which a gentleman is bound to respect." "Quite so," said Peter, unable to discover the bearings which lay in the application of this particular observation. "You _say_ 'Quite so'; but what has your _behaviour_ been, sir?" "That," said Peter, "is exactly what I should like to know myself!" "A true gentleman would have considered the responsibility he incurred by giving currency to idle and malicious gossip!" His apprehensions were correct then: it _was_ one of the young ladies' mothers--but _which?_