She did not seem to like the idea, but remained silent for some minutes.
"Does any person, on the Madiana, know that the name in the passenger list is not your true one?" she said, finally.
"Yes. Mr. Wesson knows; and Mr. Edgerly."
She put her hand over her mouth with a quick motion, as if to suppress a scream.
"How could you tell those casual acquaintances what you concealed from me?" she said, hoarsely.
"What difference can it make? I was introduced to Wesson in the office of the steamship agent, some time before we sailed, as I remember telling you. We exchanged cards. When he afterwards saw the way my name was spelled on the list he asked me how it happened and I ascribed it to a printer's error. I added, that as all the passengers would probably call me Camwell, it was easier for him to do so than to explain the mistake to fifty people."
"Yes," said Miss May, slowly. "And—Edgerly?"
I thought she was awfully pressing, but I wanted to keep on good terms with her and I proceeded to account for his knowledge also.
"Well, Miss Inquisitive, Edgerly's case was like this: He won a small sum of money from me at poker and was kind enough to offer to refund it, and take my check for the amount. Thinking I might want the ready money to buy you a paper of pins or something of that sort I accepted his proposal with thanks. Of course, he asked what right I had to sign the name of Donald Camran to the check, and of course, I told him of the agent's 'error' on the passenger list. There! Is there anything else you would like to know?"
Saying this I took the hand nearest me in mine, to show that my bantering was entirely good natured, and was surprised to find it quite cold.