Hennessy had already succeeded in securing an invitation to return to
Spruce Beach in Mr. Farnum's hired auto.
Hal Hastings presently turned, as though to step over to Mlle. Nadiboff's car, but he caught a swift look from Jack, and turned back. Hal had not yet heard of the grave suspicion against the young woman, and could not guess what this move of his chum's meant. Hastings, however, was swift to take the hint.
"You have not overstated your friend's intelligence," murmured the young
Russian gleefully. "At a short look from you he retreats."
"Oh, Hal and I always understand each other," smiled Jack.
"That is very interesting. And yet I do not like Mr. Hastings as I like you," replied the young woman.
She looked at him with a friendly, little flash in her eyes. Had Jack been a few years older, and not warned, he might have been snared by this experienced flirt. As it was, he did not take the trouble to answer her last little speech.
Just before they stepped into the car Mlle. Nadiboff uttered a few quick words, in some foreign tongue, to her man at the steering wheel. The auto sped away. Jack noted only, at first, that they were now going further from Spruce Beach. The road down which they drove, however, was a beautiful one, and the submarine boy did not much mind where they went, provided he could find out how Mlle. Nadiboff meant to make the approach against his loyalty to the submarine company.
"Do you know, my Captain, that you are hardly a flattering escort?" began Mlle. Nadiboff, after they had whirled along for a mile or more.
"Why not?" Jack inquired, bluntly.
"Have you noticed how I seem to please most men?"