'I was sure it was he,' Lady Maud said, 'but I did not expect that.' [{402}]
'Well,' said Mr. Van Torp, finding his voice, 'he shan't. That's all.'
'No. I told him so. If I had been dressed I would have asked you to put me ashore at Messina. I thought you were going to stop there—the stewardess told me where we were, but she knew nothing else; and now we're off again.'
'I can't help it, Maud,' said Van Torp, almost in a whisper, 'I don't believe it. I don't believe in impossibilities like that beard of his. It may sound ridiculous in the face of your recognising your own husband, but it's a solid fact, and you can't get over it. I wish I could catch the Erinna and show him to that Tartar girl. She'd know in a minute. He can't be her man and Leven too. There's only one thing to be done that I can see.'
'What?' asked Lady Maud sadly and incredulously.
'Tell him you'll take him back on condition that he'll shave.'
Mr. Van Torp, who was in dead earnest, had just given his best friend this piece of sound practical advice when the door opened, though he had not rung, and the steward announced that the second mate had a message for Mr. Van Torp. He was admitted, and he delivered it.
The owner sprang to his feet.
'By thunder, we've caught 'em!' he cried, as he rushed out of the deck saloon.
Lady Maud leaned back and stared at his empty chair, wondering what was going to happen next. [{403}]