"I did not exactly force myself into your boat, though I was very glad to go in her, for I expected by this time to meet Mr. Whippleton."
"I wanted to tell you what my purpose was," said he, making another effort to approach the subject which he had tried to introduce before.
"I think I know what your purpose was."
"Do you, indeed?"
"I do, indeed."
"Perhaps you would be willing to state it."
"To save you the trouble of doing so in your roundabout way, I will. You intended to run away with Miss Collingsby. You deceived her, lied to her, and thus induced her to come on board of your yacht. You asked me only because she would not go alone with you."
"Did she tell you that?" demanded he, biting his lip, and trying to subdue his rising wrath.
"No matter what she told me; I am not blind. You told her you would join Mr. Whippleton's party, and that the two Miss Lords were on board of his boat. I saw her when she came in here, and he was alone."
"The ladies were in the cabin, I suppose."