"You are ill? What's the matter? You're not frightened?"
I stretched out a hand and took it up quickly. I was trembling now. He tried to intercept me and to reach it first.
"You must give that to me, please," he said shortly, almost sternly. "It is mine. It must have fallen out when Gustav was trying to drag me up."
"It is nothing but a wisp of ribbon," I replied, lightly.
"I'll give you anything but that," he declared, again sternly.
"No, I will have this. I have a right to it."
He grew angry and his face took a look of such determination as I had not seen on it before. "No. Not that—at any cost." His voice was hoarse, but his manner very firm.
Our eyes met. His hard and stern; mine all but smiling.
"I tell you I have a right to it," I said.
"What do you mean?"