Part 52 (1/2)

The two men looked into each other eyes. They smiled. How could they resist the contagion of her sunny nature?

”I have been thinking over what you said to me just now, Anstruther,”

said the s.h.i.+powner slowly.

”Oh!” cried Iris. ”Have you two been talking secrets behind my back?”

”It is no secret to you--my little girl--” Her father's voice lingered on the phrase. ”When we are on sh.o.r.e, Robert, I will explain matters to you more fully. Just now I wish only to tell you that where Iris has given her heart I will not refuse her hand.”

”You darling old dad! And is that what all the mystery was about?”

She took his face between her hands and kissed him. Lord Ventnor, wondering at this effusiveness, strolled forward.

”What has happened, Miss Deane?” he inquired. ”Have you just discovered what an excellent parent you possess?”

The baronet laughed, almost hysterically. ”'Pon my honor,” he cried, ”you could not have hit upon a happier explanation.”

His lords.h.i.+p was not quite satisfied.

”I suppose you will take Iris to Smith's Hotel?” he said with cool impudence.

Iris answered him.

”Yes. My father has just asked Robert to come with us--by inference, that is. Where are you going?”

The adroit use of her lover's Christian name goaded his lords.h.i.+p to sudden heat.

”Indeed!” he snarled. ”Sir Arthur Deane has evidently decided a good many things during the last hour.”

”Yes,” was the s.h.i.+powner's quiet retort. ”I have decided that my daughter's happiness should be the chief consideration of my remaining years. All else must give way to it.”

The Earl's swarthy face grew sallow with fury. His eyes blazed, and there was a tense vibrato in his voice as he said--

”Then I must congratulate you, Miss Deane. You are fated to endure adventures. Having escaped from the melodramatic perils of Rainbow Island you are destined to experience another variety of s.h.i.+pwreck here.”

He left them. Not a word had Robert spoken throughout the unexpected scene. His heart was throbbing with a tremulous joy, and his lords.h.i.+p's sneers were lost on him. But he could not fail to note the malignant purpose of the parting sentence.

In his quietly masterful way he placed his hand on the baronet's shoulder.

”What did Lord Ventnor mean?” he asked.

Sir Arthur Deane answered, with a calm smile--”It is difficult to talk openly at this moment. Wait until we reach the hotel.”

The news flew fast through the settlement that H.M.S. _Orient_ had returned from her long search for the _Sirdar_. The wars.h.i.+p occupied her usual anchorage, and a boat was lowered to take off the pa.s.sengers. Lieutenant Playdon went ash.o.r.e with them. A feeling of consideration for Anstruther prevented any arrangements being made for subsequent meetings. Once their courteous duty was ended, the officers of the _Orient_ could not give him any further social recognition.

Lord Ventnor was aware of this fact and endeavored to turn it to advantage.

”By the way, Fitzroy,” he called out to the commander as he prepared to descend the gangway, ”I want you, and any others not detained by duty, to come and dine with me tonight.”

Captain Fitzroy answered blandly--”It is very good of you to ask us, but I fear I cannot make any definite arrangements until I learn what orders are awaiting me here.”

”Oh, certainly. Come if you can, eh?”