"What moved you to such a desperate course, Robert?"
His tawny eyes glowed with the light of inner speculation.
"Was it to be with me? Or was it O'Donnell's lass?"
I hesitated, frankly loath to hurt him.
"I was concerned for her," I admitted finally. "This ship is no fit place for a maid, as I have said before."
"'Tis better than some," he answered.
But my reply did not seem to annoy him. His gaze dwelt upon my face for several moments longer.
"Well, well," he said as he began to pace the carpet again. "We must make the best of it, lad."