Can you tell me the way _Puede usted dirigirme a la_
to the railway station, _estación tramvia--policia--_
tramway, police station, _casa de correos._
post-office?
Vingie sniffed fitfully at the roses.
"He might be worth training. Unfortunately one never finds them
ready-made. Well, we shall have a chance to see in a few days," she
murmured.
As the S.S. _Badajoz_ shook the third territorial mile from her
creaming wake, Vingie slid an expensive diamond and sapphire ring
from the third finger of her right hand to the third finger of her
left, extended the hand meaningly to Rupert, and withdrew it swiftly.
The gesture was not lost upon him; thenceforth he became her slave
according to his, as yet, limited comprehension. Sir Charles passed
idle days reading or in the practise of such pastimes as poker,
bridge, or even a little quiet baccarat. Jim Andaside scarcely left
the entrails of two racing model Catapults, camouflaged to look like
the standard product, the deceptive sprats with which he hoped to
catch golden Iberian mackerel.
On the last night of the voyage they drank success to their
enterprise in the golden waters of France. Vingie gazed thoughtfully
at her three fellow travelers, dwelling particularly on Jim.
"Remember," she said at last, "this is to be no joy-ride. My one
object in life is to sell Catapults. People's love-troubles don't
interest me. I look on you two young men simply as so much human
material for bringing me in ten shillings per car on a sale of five
thousand cars."
"You are distraught with commercialism, my dear Virginia," declared
Sir Charles gravely. "Oblige me by taking her on deck, Rupert, and
letting her look at the moon. I mean the boat deck not the promenade
deck. One is nearer the moon on the boat deck."