"Oh!" she cried, flown into a passion in an instant. "I could kill you—I could kill you for that!" And without another word she turned her face to the wall and still clutching her money tenaciously, she made it plain that she had done with him.
"All right, Maryska," he said, rising, "you shall have the wine all right. I don't care that for the doctors; I'll see to it myself."
She did not answer him, and lay so still that she might have been dead.
III
Gabrielle returned immediately after the interview was terminated, and with her Harry Lassett, who by no means liked the circumstances of her visit, and had come to verify them. She went at once to Maryska's cabin, but Lassett remained on deck to sample the green cigars, and incidentally to cross-question their owner. He talked upon a number of subjects with the assurance of twenty-three years and the experience of ten.
"I've heard a lot of things about you from Gabrielle. Of course, you know I'm engaged to her."
Faber finished the operation of striking a match and then lighted his cigar.
"Why, is that so? My congratulations. When is it to be?"
"Oh, I dunno; marriage is a considerable proposition. Besides, I'm going out to Australia next winter—cricket, you know."
"Ah! you play ball, then? Is there much to it?"