Part 50 (1/2)

”Yes,” he repeated, ”as a cook you're a failure, Scheherazade. That broth which you seasoned for me has done funny things to my eyes, too.

But they're recovering. I see much better already. My vision is becoming sufficiently clear to observe how pretty you are in your nurse's cap and ap.r.o.n.”

A slow colour came into her face and he saw her eyebrows bend inward as though she were annoyed.

”You _are_ pretty, Scheherazade,” he repeated. ”You know you are, don't you? But you're a poor cook and a rotten shot. You can't be perfection, you know. Cheer up!”

She ignored the suggestion, her dark eyes brooding and remote again; and he lay watching her with placid interest in which no rancour remained. He was feeling decidedly better every minute now. He lifted the automatic pistol and shoved it under his pillow, then cautiously flexed his fingers, his arms, and finally his knees, with increasing pleasure and content.

”Such dreadful soup,” he said. ”But I'm a lot better, thank you. Was it to have been murder this time, too, Scheherazade? Would the entire cupful have made a pretty angel of me? Oh, fie! Naughty Scheherazade!”

She remained mute.

”Didn't you mean manslaughter with intent to exterminate?” he insisted, watching her.

Perhaps she was thinking of her blond and bearded companion, and the open port, for she made no reply.

”Why didn't you let him heave me out?” inquired Neeland. ”Why did you object?”

At that she reddened to the roots of her hair, understanding that what she feared had been true--that Neeland, while physically helpless, had retained sufficient consciousness to be aware of what was happening to him and to understand at least a part of the conversation.

”What was the stuff with which you flavoured that soup, Scheherazade?”

He was merely baiting her; he did not expect any reply; but, to his surprise, she answered him:

”Threlanium--Speyer's solution is what I used,” she said with a sort of listless effrontery.

”Don't know it. Don't like it, either. Prefer other condiments.”

He lifted himself on one elbow, remained propped so, tore open his wireless telegram, and, after a while, contrived to read it:

”James Neeland, ”S. S. Volhynia.

”Spies aboard. Be careful. If trouble threatens captain has instructions British Government to protect you and order arrests on your complaint.

”Naa.”

With a smile that was almost a grin, Neeland handed the telegram to Ilse Dumont.

”Scheherazade,” he said, ”you'll be a good little girl, now, won't you? Because it would be a shocking thing for you and your friend across the way to land in England wearing funny bangles on your wrists and keeping step with each other, wouldn't it?”

She continued to hold the slip of paper and stare at it long after she had finished reading it and the words became a series of parallel blurs.

”Scheherazade,” he said lightly, ”what on earth am I going to do with you?”

”I suppose you will lodge a charge with the captain against me,” she replied in even tones.

”Why not? You deserve it, don't you? You and your humorous friend with the yellow beard?”