“Nothing at all, thanks,” Geraldine assured him. “We’ll just stroll about for a little time.”
They leaned over the rail together. The young officer saluted and withdrew. A freshening breeze blew in their faces and the sunshine danced upon the foam-flecked sea. The harbour was lively with small craft, an aeroplane was circling overhead, and out in the Roads several warships were lying anchored.
“I was in luck this morning,” Granet asserted.
“So were we,” Geraldine replied. “I never enjoyed motoring more. Your new car is wonderful.”
“She is a beauty, isn’t she?” Granet assented enthusiastically. “What she could touch upon fourth speed I wouldn’t dare to say. We were going over sixty plenty of times this morning, and yet one scarcely noticed it. You see, she’s so beautifully hung.”
“You are fortunate,” she remarked, “to have an appreciative uncle.”
“He is rather a brick,” Granet acknowledged. “He’s done me awfully well all my life.”
She nodded.
“You really are rather to be envied, aren’t you, Captain Granet? You have most of the things a man wants. You’ve had your opportunity, too of doing just the finest things a man can, and you’ve done them.”
He looked gloomily out seawards.