"My handkerchief—where did you get it?" she demanded.
"Found it in my boat; lucky of me, too. I'd forgotten a tie. How does it look?"
Rosalind was beginning to sense the futility of the interview. She was rapidly losing control of it. Yet she was anxious to prevent the man from carrying out his very obvious purpose. Robberies among the guests might entail risks—for her. It was scarcely possible that nobody had seen her in the company of the boatman.
As she studied him, however, she admitted to herself that he might not have been recognized. He was very different in appearance now. But aside from the possibility that none save herself had paid attention to him was his evident and persistent purpose to link her misfortunes with his misdeeds. She had the sensation of a captive held for ransom, yet kept in ignorance of what the ransom might be.
"You must go away," she told him firmly.
"Can't, ma'am. I've got a passenger to ferry."
"You must leave the grounds; go back to your boat."
"And I was just beginning to have a good time," he said ruefully, surveying his costume.
"I will pay you if you will go away."
"I haven't asked you to. I— Here comes Reggy!"