Captain Martin and Chief Engineer Nicholson were smoking a pipe together in the latter’s very comfortable but somewhat out-of-the-way quarters when, to their surprise, the door of the cabin was abruptly opened to admit two of the ship’s guests, Cornelius Blunn and Baron Funderstrom.

“Good evening, gentlemen,” the captain said, in some surprise.

Cornelius Blunn was not wasting words.

“We want to know, Mr. Engineer, what is wrong with your engines. Why can’t you start up and get us back to Monte Carlo according to promise?”

“My engines! Who said there was anything wrong with my engines?” Nicholson demanded.

“Mr. Slattery has told us so,” was the curt reply. “He told us not a quarter of an hour ago that you were afraid to start them for fear of an accident to one of the pistons.”

“Well, if Mr. Slattery said so,” the chief engineer observed, “he’s doubtless right.”

“I do not believe it,” Blunn declared. “We have reason to suspect that Mr. Slattery is trying to keep us out here all night for a purpose of his own.”

“If you think that, it’s Mr. Slattery you’d better talk to, sir,” Nicholson suggested. “My job on board this boat is to take orders from the owner. You’d better go and complain to Mr. Slattery, if there’s anything not to your liking.”

“We have complained to Mr. Slattery,” Blunn rejoined. “He has refused to order you to start the engines.”

“Then that’s all there is to be said about it,” the captain intervened. “They’ll start all right as soon as Mr. Slattery says the word, and not before.”

Cornelius Blunn’s hand left his hip pocket. He was a good judge of men, and he realised that threats were not likely to help him.

“Look here,” he said. “You two are sensible men. I’m sure of that. I want to tell you that Mr. Slattery is playing a very dangerous game. He is pretending to be broken down to keep this gentleman. Baron Funderstrom, from attending the Nice Conference to-morrow.”

“Aye, aye,” the engineer observed. “He has some good reason, no doubt.”

“I am not going to threaten you with what may happen if this conspiracy is persisted in,” Blunn went on. “I want to put the matter to you another way. Start your engines up and get us into Monte Carlo before morning and you shall have a draft for five thousand pounds, during the day.”

“Five thousand pounds!” Chief Engineer Nicholson exclaimed.

“Five thousand pounds!” the captain echoed.

“It’s an enormous sum,” the former declared.

“It is yours, if you’ll do as I have asked,” Blunn assured them.

“What’s the matter with Mr. Slattery giving me my orders?” Nicholson demanded.

“Mr. Slattery has already given you his orders, and we don’t approve of them,” Blunn replied.

“It’s a pity, that,” the chief engineer regretted, “for Mr. Slattery’s are the only orders that are likely to receive any attention on board this ship.”

“If to that five, I were to add another two?” Blunn suggested.

“Seven thousand pounds! Why, man alive, it’s a tremendous sum,” the other gasped. “I’d not know what to do with such a fortune.”

“That is for you to decide,” Blunn said impatiently. “You can make your own arrangements with the captain. All we ask of you is to start your engines, and of the captain, to take us into Monte Carlo. Come! This shall mean your fortunes, both of you. It shall be ten thousand pounds between you, paid in cash to-morrow morning.”

“Ten thousand pounds!” the engineer repeated. “Did you hear that, Captain Martin? Five thousand apiece! Why, mon, the money would be a temptation to us. Like as not we would stay on land and get drunk, instead of coming to sea, like decent seafaring men should.”

“Will you do it, or won’t you?” Blunn demanded, suddenly suspicious of the other’s attitude.

The chief engineer knocked the ashes from his pipe.

“I’m thinking,” he said, “that neither of you gentlemen are much used to the sea and the ways of seafaring folk, or you’d know that there isn’t a self-respecting officer born who’d take his orders from any except his skipper. You’re simply wasting your time here, gentlemen. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be getting along. I’ve a fancy for a word with Mr. Slattery.”

“You’ll stay here for the present,” Blunn declared coolly. “Don’t make a fuss about it, please. No one wants to hurt you, but there’s a great deal at stake, and a few men’s lives won’t make much difference.”

The engineer looked in blank and genuine amazement down the black muzzle of Blunn’s automatic.

“Take your finger off that trigger, you blithering idiot,” he shouted. “Don’t you know it might go off at any minute?”

“It’s very likely indeed to go off if you move,” Blunn assured him. “Just as you are, please, both of you.”

Baron Funderstrom stepped backwards, and Blunn followed his example. Outside, they shut the door and locked it. The two officers stared at one another open-mouthed.

“So that’s the game,” the engineer exclaimed. “We’re keeping that warmed-up corpse of a lop-eared German from going to the Conference. Abductors! That’s what we are.”

The captain helped himself to whisky and passed the decanter.

“Fill up, J............