"I must be in tip-top condition for to-morrow—so much depends upon it," he said, smiling.
Rita thought a good deal about her conversation with him when he left, tried to puzzle out the mystery, but failed.
"I'll wait until he tells me," she said. "I wish Dick hadn't shouted when he said 'Rita'; it interrupted a pleasant sentence. I wonder how it would have finished?" and she smiled quietly to herself.
Dick drove them to Torquay, then returned home. Brack rowed them out to the Sea-mew. He was loquacious as usual.
"Nice night, gents," he said.
"Beautiful, Brack. Isn't it rather dark though?" said Ben.
Picton seemed moody.
"Yes, there's no moon to speak of; it's darker than I've known it at this time o' year."
The old fellow chatted until they came alongside.
Picton paid him and said good-night. Brack thanked him and said: "Goin' to ride any winners to-morrow, sir?"