nd change into your
boat?"

He shook his head.

"I am going fishing," he said, "in a different direction. Allow me."

He stepped on to land and lifted her out. She hesitated for a moment
and felt for her purse.

"You must let me recompense you," she said coldly, "for the time you
have lost in coming to my assistance."

He looked down at her, and again she had an uncomfortable sense that
notwithstanding his rude clothes and country dialect, this man was no
ordinary villager. He said nothing, however, until she produced her
purse, and held out a little tentatively two half-crowns.

"You are very kind," he said. "I will take one if you will allow me.
That is quite sufficient. You see the Hall behind the trees there. You
cannot miss your way, I think, and if you will take my advice you will
not wander about in the marshes here except at high tide. The sea comes
in to the most unexpected places, and very quickly, too, sometimes.
Good morning!"

"Good morning, and thank you very much," she answered, turning away
toward the road.

* * * * *

Cecil de la Borne was standing at the end of the drive when she
appeared, a telescope in his hand. He came hastily down the road to
meet her, a very slim and elegant figure in his well-cut flannel
clothes, smoothly brushed hair, and irreproachable tie.

"My dear Miss Jeanne," he exclaimed, "I have only just heard that you
were out. Do you generally get up in the middle of the night?"

She smiled a little half-heartedly. It was curious that she found
herself contrasting for a moment this very elegant young man with her
roughly dressed companion of a few minutes ago.

"To meet with an adventure such as I have had," she answered, "I would
never go to bed at all. I have been nearly drowned, and rescued by a
most marvellous person. He brought me back to safety in a flat-bottomed
punt, and I am quite sure from the way he stared at them that he had
never seen open-work stockings before."

"Are you in earnest?" Cecil asked doubtfully.

"Absolutely," she answered. "I was walking there among the marshes, and
I suddenly found myself surrounded by the sea. The tide had come up
behind me without my noticing. A most mysterious person came to my
rescue. He wore the clothes of a fisherman, and he accepted half a
crown, but I have my doubts about him even now. He said that his name
was Mr. Andrew."

Cecil opened the gate and they walked up towards the house. A slight
frown had appeared