They rowed to the steamer through the dark waters, with the lights of the city gleaming like stars in the distance, and the tall forms of ships looming like phantoms in the gloom. At last, after an adventurous journey, they arrived on board, and the first thing Ronald saw was Ventin leaning over the bulwarks watching fresh arrivals. As soon as Mrs. Pellypop and Kate, escorted by Pat, had gone below, Ronald went to Ventin. "Have you been on board all day?" he asked. Ventin shook his head. "No; I changed my mind and went on shore shortly after you left." "Did you see her?" "I did." "The devil--did she see you?" "I think so." "Oh, so she didn't speak to you?" "No! I was afraid of a scene, and came back to the ship at once." "Well, she won't come on board now," said Ronald, consolingly; "so you'll be all right." Ventin sighed. "Nothing is so certain as the unforeseen," he replied, mournfully. CHAPTER III. FOUND DEAD. The excitement of arrival at a new place is only equalled by the excitement of departure, and as the "Neptune" was to leave at nine o'clock no one thought of going to bed until the anchor was up. The deck was crowded with passengers talking gaily about their adventures during the day, and here and there could be seen the strange faces of new arrivals on board. All round the steamer numerous boats, each bearing a light, were cruising about, and the water looked as if covered with restless fire-flies. Every now and then the whistle would sound in order to summon heedless passengers who had forgotten the hour of sailing. A lot of people had come to see new passengers off, and some were having a parting glass at the bar, while others were talking together in knots on deck. It was a very animated scene, and Ronald, standing by Ventin, felt amused at the chatter and bustle that was going on. Ventin however, eyed the crowd in his usual gloomy manner, and Ronald could not help asking him the cause of his lowering looks. "Nothing more than common," he answered, carelessly; "I've seen all this sort of thing so often, it has become dreary--I'm bored, and I detest being bored." "Are you afraid of seeing your wife?" "Well, I don't know," replied Ventin, pulling his mustache; "if she thinks she can make a row she certainly will, but as I am under another name she will ask for me by my real one, and therefore she will be told there's no such person on board." "And then?" interrogatively. "Oh as she saw me in Valletta to-day she will think I'm stopping there, and hunt everywhere for me--I hope her patience will be rewarded--by the way, when do we start?" "Nine o'clock," replied Ronald, looking at his watch, "it's now half-past eight." "I'll go to bed, I think," observed Mr. Ventin, holding out his hand. "Won't you wait till we start?" "Too sleepy," yawned the other. "Well if your fellow-traveller enters later you will be awakened."