"Sorry to hear that there was a mistake, miss," he said. "We were expecting a young lady on board, the daughter of the owner, who had been giving her people some trouble."
Henriette simply looked at the man. He turned away.
"I want to go on deck," she whispered to Aaron. "I want to get away from this atmosphere. Come quickly, please.... Oh, look, look!"
Half a dozen English sailors came down the companion-way. They were in war trim and they looked like ruddy goliaths by the side of the pale, anæmic-looking crew of the Christiania. Henriette gave a little sob.
"I feel safe," she cried, "safe, after all.... Aaron!"
"Yes, dear?"
Her little face, so white and pitiful, was strained up to his. The ghost of one of her old provocative smiles quivered at her lips.
"Even Leopold," she murmured, "will not be able to say 'no' any longer. Do you know that you are a wonderful person? You are like one of those heroes in romances. There never was such a rescue."
He pressed her arm.
"Our last adventure," he whispered, "is going to be the greatest of all."