She glanced fleetingly up at him. "I must look an awfull sight. Won't you sit down? I - I haven't thanked you yet."

He sat down in the plush-covered armchair she had vacated. "Oh yes, you have! Your manners are improving a lot. You thanked me at once."

"Did I?" She smiled at that. "I don't remember. I when I heard the other boat - I had a feeling it was you. Did - did your policeman tell you what had happened?"

"Tucker? Oh no, he hadn't any idea. I apologise for having provided you with such a useless guardian. My own intuition brought me. By the way, Bill jumped through the kitchen window. I left him with Tucker."

"It was nice of you to think of him," said Shirley, feeling shyer than ever.

"I am nice," said Amberley coolly.

She laughed and coloured. "Yes. I - I know."

"I don't want to bother you," he said, "but there's just one thing that's worrying me. What did you do with your half?"

She jumped and sat staring up at him. "My — my half?"

"Don't tell me you had it on you!"