"I think I shall bore a hole in it," I said, "and wear it as a medal.
A naval victory like ours deserves some recognition."
She laughed softly. "There will always be one person who remembers
it," she said, "if that's any satisfaction."
Something prompted me to take a bold step.
"May I come and talk to you sometimes when I see you on deck?" I
asked. "Please tell me straight out if you would rather I didn't."
A troubled look came into her eyes, and for a moment she hesitated.
"It isn't a question of what I should like," she said slowly. "You
see, I have to think of my uncle. He is not at all well, and he has
a very strong objection to our making any fresh acquaintances on
board."
I daresay my face showed what I thought of Señor de Roda, for she
continued a little hastily: "You mustn't imagine that he is unkind or
disagreeable. Indeed, in a way I--I agree with him. Please don't
think me ungrateful, but it will be much the best if we just say
good-bye now."
There was something almost wistful in the way she spoke, which at
once softened my resentment without in any way altering my
disappointment.
"Couldn't we split the difference?" I suggested. "Let me have one
more talk with you, and then, if it's got to be good-bye, I'll try
and say it as cheerfully as possible."
There was a moment's pause. "Very well," she said. "I sometimes go
up on deck for a few minutes before breakfast. If you care to come
and talk to me to-morrow morning, please do."
I took off my cap, and with a very slight bow she turned towards her
cabin, leaving me standing there in a tangle of interesting, and, so
far as I was concerned, quite novel emotions.
I woke up to perceive Ross sauntering towards me, with his hands in
his pockets and a mischievous twinkle in his grey eyes.
"Hullo!" he observed. "Got my pipe?"
I nodded. "I have bought you a beauty," I said. "You will be a
credit to the ship."
"There's a telegram for you in your cabin," he went on; "a cable from
England, I think. It came on board just after you had gone ashore."
"A cable from England!" I repeated. "I wonder who the Dickens it's
from."
He chuckled softly. "Can't say," he replied, "unless it's a message
from King Arthur offering you a seat at the Round Table. I believe
they're getting devilish short of knights errant."