"Where is Jonkheer Brederode?" she asked.
"He's on deck, too."
"And you expect me to say—before him—that——"
"He's said the same, already. Or, at least, he agreed while I said it."
"Oh! Well, I don't see how I'm to go through with it. But for Lady MacNairne's sake, I'll—do it. Come, let's get it over."
"Wait a minute," I urged, restraining her impatience. "I must explain a little more, first. After Sir Alec has talked with you, he'll want to come below to the cabins, and everywhere, searching for his wife; for he won't believe, till he's made sure with his own eyes, that she's not on board. If you're willing that he should, I am; but don't tell him that a person named Lady MacNairne's really with us, or I can't answer for the consequences."
"If he comes below, he'll see her."
"That doesn't matter, as they've never met; so long as he doesn't know her name."
"Very well, he shan't learn it from me."
"And he mustn't from Miss Rivers. Will you warn your stepsister, not under any provocation whatever, to speak the name of Lady MacNairne?"