was now passing to port those twinkling cities of delight,
Clacton and Frinton, and the long pier of Walton stretched out towards it,
a string of topazes. The moon was higher and brighter than ever, but clouds
had heaped themselves up to windward, and the surface of the water was
rippled. Moreover, the yacht was now working over a strong, foul tide. The
company, with the exception of Mr. Gilman, who had gone below--apparently
in order to avoid being on the same deck with Captain Wyatt--had decided
that Musa should be asked to play. Although the sound of his practising had
escaped occasionally through the porthole of a locked cabin, he had not
once during the cruise performed for the public benefit. Dancing was
finished. Why should not the yacht profit by the presence of a great genius
on board? The doctor and the secretary were of one mind with the women that
there was no good answer to this question, and even the crew obviously felt
that the genius ought to show what he was made of.

"Dare we ask you?" said Madame Piriac to the youth, offering him the violin
case. Her supplicatory tone and attitude, though they were somewhat
assumed, proved to what a height Musa had recently risen as a personage.

He hesitated, leaning against the rail and nervously fingering it.

"I know it is a great deal to ask. But you would give us so much pleasure,"
said Madame Piriac.

Musa replied in a dry, curt voice:

"I should prefer not to play."

"Oh! But Musa--" There was a general protest.

"I cannot play," Musa exclaimed with impatience, and moved almost savagely
away.

The experience was novel for Madame Piriac, left standing there, as it
were, respectfully presenting the violin case to the rail. This beautiful
and not unpampered lady was accustomed to see her commands received as an
honour; and when she condescended to implore, the effect usually was to
produce a blissful and deprecatory confusion in the person besought. Her
husband and Mr. Gilman had for a number of years been teaching her that
whatever she desired was the highest good and the most complete felicity to
everybody concerned in the fulfilment of the desire. She bore the blow from
Musa admirably, keeping both her smile and her dignity, and with one
gesture excusing Musa to all beholders as a capricious and a sensitive
artist in whom moodiness was lawful. It was exquisitely done. It could not
have been better done. But not even Madame Piriac's extreme skill could