Tony glanced at his watch. "I think you had better leave it to me," he said. "We shall be wanted on deck in a few minutes, and I've had such a lot of practice, I'm sure I can tell it quicker than any one else." He turned to Jimmy. "It's an exciting story, James; but you must listen very carefully and not interrupt me."
Mr. Dale crossed his legs. "Let her rip," he observed tranquilly.
Once more, and this time with a masterly brevity that put all his previous efforts in the shade, Tony proceeded to relate the series of stimulating incidents which had sprung from his chance encounter with Isabel outside the Long Acre flats. Owing to his highly condensed method it was impossible to avoid a certain obscurity about some of the details, but obedient to his instructions Jimmy received it all in unquestioning silence.
For a moment, even after Tony had finished, he still remained mute; then with a sudden soft little chuckle he got up from his chair, and thrust his hands deep into his trouser pockets.
"My sainted Aunt!" he observed. "If ever there was a purple picnic on this earth it seems to me we've struck it." He paused, as though overwhelmed with the magnificence of the situation. "And this girl," he went on slowly, "this girl who's so like the Princess? Do you really mean to say that you have brought her with you—that you've got her here—on board?"
"We have," replied Tony, "very much so."
Jimmy glanced round the cabin. "Well, where is she? What have you done with her?"
Tony turned his seat in the direction of the Rev. Mr. Monk.
"Get up, Molly," he said. "Get up and make the gentleman a nice curtsey."
With her most bewitching smile, Molly rose to her feet, and picking up the skirts of her coat in either hand, sank gracefully towards the floor.