She was startled by the seriousness of his tone. "Yes, I'll be waiting," she told him.
"That's great." He hesitated a moment; it is a risky business to leave the girl you love on a float in the moonlight with a handsome naval officer. But it had to be done. "I'm off," he said, and dove.
When he came up he heard the lieutenant's voice. "Say, old man, that dive was all wrong. You let me show you—"
"Go to the devil," muttered John Quincy wetly, and swam with long powerful strokes toward the shore. Mad with haste, he plunged into the dressing-room, donned his clothes, then dashed out again. No time for apologies to his hostess. He ran along the beach to the Winterslip house. Haku was dozing in the hall.
"Wikiwiki," shouted John Quincy. "Tell the chauffeur to get the roadster into the drive and start the engine. Wake up! Travel! Where's Miss Barbara?"
"Last seen on beach—" began the startled Haku.
On the bench under the hau tree he found Barbara sitting alone. He stood panting before her.
"My dear," he said. "I know at last who killed your father—"
She was on her feet. "You do?"
"Yes—shall I tell you?"