“Everything. From the time you meekly told the steward to take out your valise until the time you meekly apologised to Hodden for having told him the truth, and then meekly followed the purser to a room containing three others.”
“But Hodden meekly, as you express it, apologised first. I suppose you know that too, otherwise I would not have mentioned it.”
“Certainly he did. That was because he found his overbearing tactics did not work. He apologised merely to get rid of you, and did. That’s what put me out of patience with you. To think you couldn’t see through his scheme!”
“Oh! I thought it was the lack of manly qualities you despised in me. Now you are accusing me of not being crafty.”
“How severely you say that! You quite frighten me! You will be making me apologise by-and-by, and I don’t want to do that.”
Buel laughed, and resumed his walk.
“It’s all right,” he said; “Hodden’s loss is my gain. I’ve got in with a jolly lot, who took the trouble last night to teach me the great American game at cards—and counters.”
Miss Jessop sighed.
“Having escaped with my life,” she said, “I think I shall not run any more risks, but shall continue with your book. I had no idea you could look so fierce. I have scarcely gotten over it yet. Besides, I am very much interested in that book of yours.”
“Why do you say so persistently ‘that book of mine’?”