The little ship, wonderfully swift and graceful in her motions, was crossing high above the river, then circled gradually lower and lower, nearing them, like a bat, at every sweep.
"There's a lady in her," said the Judge, "perhaps it's Miss Jardine."
The two men, with the electric lights from the dining-room throwing their figures into relief, must have been clearly outlined to the people in the boat.
"Yes," declared Linton. "I'll hail her. Boat ahoy! is that the Bladud?"
"Aye, aye," answered a man's voice, and then they thought they heard a low laugh from the lady in the stern. The boat circled lower and lower.
"Gently," said the Judge under his breath, "it's the President, it's Jardine himself, with his daughter."
"Would anyone like a sail?" came the question from above.
"Yes, of all things," was Linton's eager reply.
"She's not built for more than three, or we would offer to take you too, Sir Robert."