“Now?”
“Yes, if you wish. It is in his box in the cabin. He is in the salone reading. Do you want to wait here for me?”
“No, I’ll wait on the deck below. I don’t want to have to talk to these people here just now.”
They went down and stood for a moment by the rail at the foot of the companionway.
“I’ll stay here.” He pressed her hand. “My dear Josette, I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you for this.”
She smiled as if at a small boy to whom she had promised sweets. “You shall tell me that in Paris.”
He watched her go and then turned to lean against the rail. She could not be more than five minutes. He stared for a time at the long, curling bow wave streaming out and away to meet the transverse wave from the stern and be broken by it into froth. He looked at his watch. Three minutes. Someone clattered down the companionway.
“Good morning, Mr. Graham. You feel all right today, eh?” It was Mr. Kuvetli.
Graham turned his head. “Yes, thanks.”
“Monsieur and Madame Mathis are hopeful to play some bridge this afternoon. Do you play?”