“I don’t exactly know. It’s—it’s too peaceful.”
“To last? I see. But it isn’t as though I were forcing you to go through with the real voyage. Only a few days more, and you’ll have seen the last of me.”
“I hope so.”
He chuckled.
“What I meant was,” she corrected, “that nothing might happen, nobody get hurt. Human beings can plan only so far.”
“That’s true enough. Every programme is subject to immediate change. But, Lord, what a lot of programmes go through per schedule! Still, you are right. It all depends upon chance. We say a thing is cut and dried, but we can’t prove it. But so far as I can see into the future, nothing is going to happen, nobody is going to walk the plank. Piracy on a basis of 2.75 per cent.—the kick gone out of it! But if you can bring about the reconciliation of the Cleighs the old boy will not be so keen for chasing me all over the map when this job is done.”
“Will you tell me what those beads are?” 174
“To be sure I will—all in due time. What does Cleigh call them?”
“Love beads!” scornfully.
“On my solemn word, that’s exactly what they are.”