Part 34 (2/2)

This was no business of mine, and the less interest I took in it the better; so I turned to Frau Doll

'Have you been in the harbour all day?' she asked, 'then hoas it you did not visit us? Was Herr Davies so shy?' (Curiosity or malice?)

'Quite the contrary; but I was,' I answered coldly; 'you see, we knew Herr Dollet my letters; besides, we did not know your address' I looked at Clara and found her talking gaily to von Bruning, deaf seeue

'Anyone would have told you it,' saidher eyebrows

'I dare say; but directly after breakfast the fog ca,' I said, with professional solidity

Von Bruning pricked up his ears at this 'I'll be hanged if that was _your_ hed; 'you're too fond of the shore!'

I sent hih to say: 'What's the use of your warning if you won't let me act on it?'

For, of course, my excuses were meant chiefly for his consumption, and Fraulein Dollmann's That the lady I addressed them to found them unpalatable was not my fault

'Then you sat in your wretched little cabin all day?' she persisted

'All day,' I said, brazenly; 'it was the safest thing to do' And I looked again at Fraulein Dollmann, frankly and squarely Our eyes met, and she dropped hers instantly, but not before I had learnt so; for if ever I saw misery under a mask it was on her face

No; she had not told

I think I puzzled the steped her white shoulders, and said in that case she wondered we had dared to leave our precious boat and cos as well as she did--Oh, I explained, ere not so nervous as that; and as for supper on shore, if she only knehat a Spartan life we led--

'Oh, for rimace; 'I hate the mention of yachts When I think of that dreadful 'Medusa' co--' I sy one strained ear open for developht Davies, I kneas in the thick of it, and none too happy under Boh manfully 'My fault'--'sudden squall'--'quite safe', were soht; while I are, towith bread-cruutter out to an aard end, and suddenly Bohhbour, turned to ?' he said

'Yes,' I answered; 'there is a steaood We shall be coland, too, sir?' I asked, with hotto Breo by Amsterdam, I suppose?--as far as Leer, then That will be very pleasant' I fancied there was a ghoulish gusto in his tone

'Very,' I assented 'You areas usual I visit the work at Meht withfamily' (he leered round hi ininstinct, 'Meood deal about it fro; but--'

'He was discreet, I expect,' said Boh part'

'What's that aboutthat we're dying to know more about Memmert, aren't we, Davies?'

'Oh, I don't know,' said Davies, evidently aghast at hed h his