an's shop at a quarter to twelve. They looked round the
empty harbour in some surprise. Sir Lucius went at once into the shop.
Lord Torrington, being an Englishman with a proper belief in the
forces of law and order, walked a few yards back and entered the police
barracks.

"Brannigan," said Sir Lucius, "where's my boat? and where's that ruffian
Peter Walsh?"

"Your boat, is it?" said Brannigan.

"I sent down word to Peter Walsh to have her ready for me at twelve, or,
if my daughter had taken her out----"

"It would be better," said Brannigan, "if you were to see Peter Walsh
yourself. Sure I don't know what's happened to your boat."

"Where's Peter Walsh?"

"He's down at the end of the quay putting an extra coat of paint on Miss
Priscilla's boat I don't know what sense there is in doing the like, but
of course he wouldn't care to go contrary to what the young lady might
say."

Sir Lucius left the shop abruptly. At the door he ran into Lord
Torrington and the police sergeant.

"Damn it all, Lentaigne," said Lord Torrington, "how are we going to get
out?"

"There was boats in it," said the police sergeant, "plenty of them, when
I gave your lordship's message to Peter Walsh."

"Where are they now?" said Lord Torrington. "What's the good of telling
me they were here when they're not?"

The police sergeant looked cautiously round.

"I wouldn't say," he said at last, "but they're gone out of it, every
one of the whole lot of them."

Peter Walsh, his paint brush in his hand, and an expression of
respectful regret, on his face, came up to Sir Lucius and touched his
hat.

"What's the meaning of this?" said Sir Lucius. "Didn't I send you word
to have a boat, either my own or some other, ready for me at twelve?"

"The message the sergeant gave me," said Peter Walsh, "was to engage
Joseph Antony Kinsella's boat for your honour if so be that Miss
Priscilla had your own took out."

"And why the devil didn't you?" said Lord Torrington.

"Because she's not in it, your honour; nor hasn't been this day. I was
waiting for her and the minute she came to the quay I'd have been in
her, helping Joseph Antony to shovel out the gravel the way she'd be fit
for two gentlemen like yourselves to go in her."

"Is there no other boat to be got?" said Lord Torrington.

"Launch Miss Priscilla's at once," said Sir Lucius.

"Sure the paint's wet on the bottom of her."

"Launch her," said Sir Lucius, "paint or not paint."

"I