"Why not to-day? Is it a holiday for the operators?"
"So far as we are concerned."
"Ah! I see what you mean now. You intend to prevent my communicating with my friends! But this is too much. I will do so."
"I fancied you were attached to Miss Beverly."
"What has that to do with it?"
"A good deal. We are Miss Beverly's guests—or her servants, whichever you please. In either case, we surely owe her fealty. I have been informed that she does not wish to have any communication made with the outside world, from Noumea."
"I was not informed of this mandate."
"I dare say she thought that you would be guided by my counsel."
"Counsel! A strange word for your tyranny. At least, I suppose, there are no orders against returning to the hotel?"
"None. So long as we are discreet."