ature like that? In any case, she
must remain in her cabin. Under no circumstances could he permit her on
deck. To be meeting her on the stairs or promenading--the very thought
made him feel faint.

Another thing Mr. Dainopoulos had said:

"A very good thing for him, too. He would make a lot of money--here."
Captain Rannie didn't believe it. He had arrived at a complete and
horrifying conviction that Europe was collapsing of its own weight, that
the only hope for anybody was to do as he himself was doing--sending all
his money to the Anglo Celestial Bank in Hong-Kong to be exchanged for
silver dollars. That was the place--China. Down the far reaches of
memory he saw the great River, smooth and shining, stretching away from
the long quays of the port. No storms, no pitching or rolling, no rocks,
no finding of one's position. And when he stepped ashore in spotless
yellow pongee silk suit and great sun-helmet, he was somebody. Here, in
Europe, he was nobody. Out there once more, with plenty of hashish, he
could face the future.

He had said:

"She must land on arrival."

"You tell her," said Mr. Dainopoulos, "when you arrive. Put her ashore.
He'll take her. You will find plenty of friends, on arrival."

Captain Rannie received this information without ecstasy. He did not go
sailing about the world in search of friends. He was very worried. Mr.
Dainopoulos favoured him with another grin.

"Why not take her ashore yourself?"

Captain Rannie shrank as if from a blow.

"You're the captain," added Mr. Dainopoulos.

Captain Rannie turned on his chair, his shoulder hunched, as though to
ward off an impending calamity.

"Why, I thought you liked a little fun," said Mr. Dainopoulos,
surprised.

"Don't speak of it," said Captain Rannie in a stifled voice. "I make a
point of never interfering. Never allude.... Purely personal...."

"Well," said his owner, in some perplexity, "please yourself. I daresay
you understand what I mean. You'll have a good bit of time, you know, on
arrival. You won't have coal, you know, to go very far...."

He had made no reply to this, remaining hunched up on his chair, staring
fixedly at the floor. Mr. Dainopoulos had stood up, looking at him for a
while.

"You can do it?" he had asked softly. "Remember, the papers you carry
will mean big money if you get through."

Still no answer.

"It is easy," went on Mr. Dainopoulos. "You do not change your course,
that is all. Keep on. East-so