Peggy also refused to listen to this line of argument. Warren had got out a damp package of cigarettes, and he and Peggy lit one while Morgan filled his pipe. The girl laid, between short puffs, as though she were rather angrily trying to get rid of the smoke:
"But, I say, it's going to be easy now, isn't it? It was father a dreadful bloomer on their part, wasn't it? Because We shall know that girl when we see her again, and then We've got 'em. She wasn't disguised, you know. She hardly had any make-up on, even. That reminds me — my compact. Give it me, Curt. I say I must look a sight! Anyway, We can't miss her. She's still aboard the boat."
'Ms she?" said Morgan. "I wonder."
Warren, who was about to make some impatient comment, glanced up and saw the other's expression. He too the cigarette out of his mouth; his eyes grew curious! fixed.
"What — what's on your mind, General?"
"Only that Peggy's right in one sense. If that girl was an accomplice, then the thing would be too easy, much t easy for us. On the other hand, if that girl had been co ing here to try to warn you about something… I know you didn't know her, but let's suppose that's what she was doing… Then the thief gets after her and thinks he's done the business. But he hasn't. Then—"
The droning engines seemed to vibrate loud above creaking woodwork, because the wind had died outside, deep tumult was subsiding, and the Queen Victoria was rolling almost gently as though she were exhausted by th< gale. All of them were relaxed; but it did not help their nerves. Peggy jumped then as the door opened and Cap tain Valvick returned with the passenger-list in one hand and a quart of Old Rob Roy in the other.
"Ay told you ay only be a minute," he announced, wass easy to find de ports, and den de cabin numbers from inside. One is C 51 and the other C 46. Ay t'ank. Hey?" he said, peering at the strained faces in the room "What iss de matter, hey?"
"Nothing," said Morgan. "Not for a minute, anyhow Come on, now. Set your minds at rest. You wanted t know. Find out who occupies those cabins first, and then we can go on."
With a jerk of her head, still looking at him, Peggy too the passenger-list. On the point of speaking, she said nothing, and opened the list instead. But she rose and sat o the couch this time. Under cover of Captain Valvick's tall Warren helped him take the extra glasses off the rack an pour drinks. They all glanced furtively at Morgan, who had begun to wonder whether he were merely flourishing a turnip ghost. He lit his pipe during a queer silence while Peggy ran her finger down the fist, and the ship's engine beat monotonously.