The Sefalonia was due in New York on Wednesday morning, and, on Tuesday night Grant and Susan sat out on deck together until almost eleven o’clock. Susan glanced at her watch reluctantly.

“If this voyage were going on any longer, Grant,” she said, “I should have to tell people that we were engaged in self-defence. We really do such outrageous things. Do you know that I didn’t dance with any one else to-night?”

“I know I am getting very unpopular,” Grant observed, smiling, “and, curiously enough, I don’t care a bit.”

“Nor do I, really,” she agreed.

“The one thing I am glad about,” he went on, “is that we are approaching a country which has most civilised ideas as regards matrimonial arrangements. No putting banns up and waiting three weeks and that sort of thing.”

“You don’t suppose I’m going to be married over here, do you?” Susan exclaimed.

“I am hoping so,” he replied patiently. “I thought a quiet little wedding in Washington would round of? proceedings there,—if we are any of us left alive.”

“You’ve some very serious work to do first, Grant,” she reminded him.

“Very,” he assented. “So has your father. Mine may lead me into more trouble, perhaps, but your father’s is the greater responsibility. I don’t think there is another man in the world who would be able to handle the situation he will have to handle in a few days. There is a terrible crisis closing upon us, Susan.”

“The thought of it makes our little affairs seem almost unimportant, doesn’t it?” she sighed.

He leaned over and kissed her daringly. “Just for luck,” he murmured.

On his way to his stateroom Grant passed the entrance to Cornelius Blunn’s suite. He raised the curtain. The steward was seated outside the closed door.

“How’s Mr. Blunn to-night?” he enquired.

“He’s been a little easier, I think, sir,” the man replied.

“I wonder whether he’d like to see me?”

“I don’t think I’d disturb him, sir. He’s locked the door and he seems quite quiet now.”

“Are you going to sit there all night?”

“Mr. Blunn’s giving me ten dollars a night not to move, in case he wants me. The chief steward’s put another man on to look after some of my rooms. Lucky I’m used to sleeping in a chair.”

“Goodnight,” Grant wished him.

“Goodnight, sir.”

Grant made his way to his own stateroom, exchanged his patent shoes for some dark-coloured ones with rubber soles, his dinner jacket for a blue serge coat which buttoned close up to his throat, slipped the latest thing in automatics into his pocket, and went up on deck again by a roundabout way. It was nearly midnight now, and only a few people were still in evidence. He drew a chair into the recess close up against the glass-enclosed space in front of Blunn’s suite and waited until one by one they dispersed and he was entirely alone. Then he rose to his feet, opened the sliding door to which he had the key, and found himself in th............