“From the right, and what to you,” said Hugo.
“From the left,” said Napier, and there was a faint splash and a faint rustle from the water.
“Now, Shirley,” said Guy, “I’ll drown you if you go playing any fancy tricks. Come along, let’s race back.”
“Naps, found her?”
“Oh, she’s only playing the fool!” came Napier’s voice. “Heard her a moment ago. It’s all right.”
I think that Guy and Hugo and Shirley must have deflected rather to one side, for although I was the poorest swimmer of the four I arrived first at the boat. My sight in the darkness was not helped by bumping my head against the gunwale.
“Iris! Iris?”
“Hello, where’s Iris? What? God, it’s dark....”
“But haven’t you found Venice?”
“Oh, she’s playing the fool! Missed her....” We held on to the gunwale, panting. “God, man, where’s Iris? What? I say, Iris!”