n to treat you ungenerously, nor am I the man to
create any hindrance to her generosity."

"I can make no bargain with you, sir," replied Mr. Nowell, with the same
cool audacity of manner that had distinguished him throughout the
interview; "nor am I prepared to admit your claim to the position you
assume. But if my daughter is your wife, she left you of her own free
will, under no coercion of mine; and she must return to you in the same
manner, or you must put the machinery of the law in force to compel her.
And _that_, I flatter myself, in a free country like America, will be
rather a difficult business."

It was hard for John Saltram to hear any man talk like this, and not be
able to knock him down. But in his present condition Marian's husband
could not have grappled a child, and he knew it.

"You are an outrageous scoundrel!" he said between his set teeth,
tortured by that most ardent desire to dash his clenched fist into Mr.
Nowell's handsome dissolute-looking face. "You are a most consummate
villain, and you know it!"

"Hard words mean so little," returned Mr. Nowell coolly, "and go for so
little. That kind of language before witnesses would be actionable; but,
upon my word, it would be mere child's play on my part to notice it,
especially to a man in your condition. You'd better claim your wife from
the captain, and see what he will say to you. I have told him that
there's some semi-lunatic on board, who pretends to be Mrs. Holbrook's
husband; so he'll be quite prepared to hear your statement."

John Saltram left the saloon in silence. It was worse than useless
talking to this man, who presumed upon his helpless state, and openly
defied him. His next effort must be to see Marian.

This he found impossible, for the time being at any rate. The state-room
number 7 was an apartment a little bigger than a rabbit-hutch, opening
out of a larger cabin, and in that cabin there reposed a ponderous matron
who had suffered from sea-sickness throughout the voyage, and who could
in no wise permit a masculine intruder to invade the scene of her
retirement.

The idea of any blockade of Marian's door was therefore futile. He must
needs wait as patiently as he might, till she appeared of her own free
will. He could not have to wait very long; something less than a day and
a night, the steward had told him, would bring them to the end of the
voyage.

Mr. Saltram went on deck, still assisted by the friendly steward, and
s