Joe finished his breathing exercises. In them he made an attempt to hold a full breath for four minutes. This he did, timing himself with his watch. But this, of course, was in the open air, and under water conditions were different.
"If I can only do that in the tank," thought Joe, as he noted the second hand slip five paces beyond the four minute mark, "I'll be all right. Well, I'm going to make a big effort."
Helen came back, and she and Joe went to breakfast. They sat not far from Tonzo and Sid Lascalla, and the former, looking over at Joe, asked:
"When are we going to have that supper?"
"I can't say," Joe answered, trying to be jolly about it.
"What supper is that?" inquired Helen, smiling at Joe.
"Oh, it's one he's going to give to celebrate his increase in salary," answered Tonzo.
Helen looked at Joe, and became aware, from the expression of his face, that there was a hidden meaning in the words. She saw that Joe was embarrassed and so she turned the conversation. Later on, when Helen and Joe were alone, the young aquatic performer said:
"I suppose you are wondering what Tonzo was driving at?"
"Oh, I don't want to hear any secrets," Helen answered.