"Of course I mean it. It will be fun! I love a fight!"
"And you mean that you really care about me?"
"Of course I care! I believe I'll die if you don't get better," she said eagerly.
He fumbled in his pockets, lit several matches and put something in her hand.
"Here it is, look. Thirteen pounds, eight and fivepence."
"What's that for?"
"It's all my money. If I have any I'll be magnetized towards the bar. If I haven't, it's much safer. And look here, Marcella, if I come and knock you down with a sledgehammer, don't let me have that money, will you?"
"I won't," she said promptly.
She was thrilled, exhilarated, as they went below after shaking hands solemnly. She was Siegfried, and the dragon had a pock-marked face, and each foot had three claws missing. She thought, as she looked through dream-misted eyes, that the dragon was a very long one, with many legs and many heads. But she had not the faintest doubt that, in the end, he would fall to her trusty sword. And she told Louis so at the door of his cabin as she said good night to him.
Then she turned back to Number 15. She had looked about the deck for Jimmy, but guessing that he had fallen asleep in his own bunk, pushed open the door softly. She was determined that he should not sleep in there with Ole Fred, who was celebrating a great win at poker.