ellow lived next door," Ricardo growled
impatiently. "Hang it all, can't you understand a plain question? I have
asked you the way."

Schomberg seemed to revive.

"The way?"

The torpor of deceived hopes underlying his superficial changes of mood
had been pricked by these words which seemed pointed with purpose.

"The way is over the water, of course," said the hotel-keeper. "For
people like you, three days in a good, big boat is nothing. It's no more
than a little outing, a bit of a change. At this season the Java Sea
is a pond. I have an excellent, safe boat--a ship's life-boat--carry
thirty, let alone three, and a child could handle her. You wouldn't get
a wet face at this time of the year. You might call it a pleasure-trip."

"And yet, having this boat, you didn't go after her yourself--or after
him? Well, you are a fine fellow for a disappointed lover."

Schomberg gave a start at the suggestion.

"I am not three men," he said sulkily, as the shortest answer of the
several he could have given.

"Oh, I know your sort," Ricardo let fall negligently. "You are like most
people--or perhaps just a little more peaceable than the rest of the
buying and selling gang that bosses this rotten show. Well, well,
you respectable citizen," he went on, "let us go thoroughly into the
matter."

When Schomberg had been made to understand that Mr. Jones's henchman was
ready to discuss, in his own words, "this boat of yours, with courses
and distances," and such concrete matters of no good augury to that
villainous Swede, he recovered his soldierly bearing, squared his
shoulders, and asked in his military manner:

"You wish, then, to proceed with the business?"

Ricardo nodded. He had a great mind to, he said. A gentleman had to be
humoured as much as possible; but he must be managed, too, on occasions,
for his own good. And it was the business of the right sort of
"follower" to know the proper time and the proper methods of that
delicate part of his duty. Having exposed this theory Ricardo proceeded
to the application.

"I've never actually lied to him," he said, "and I ain't going to now.
I shall just say nothing about the girl. He will have to get over the
shock the best he can. Hang it all! Too much humouring won't do here."

"Funny thing," Schomberg observed crisply.

"Is it? Ay, you wouldn't mind taking a woman by the throat in some dark
corner and nobody by, I bet!"

Ricardo's dreadful, vicious, cat-like readine