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The cigarette he languidly held had gone out, and his pose was slack. He was physically tired and his brain was dull, but he was conscious of lethargic satisfaction. For a long time he had been torn between his love for Clare and his duty to his country. His difficulties were further complicated by doubts of Kenwardine's guilt, but recent events had cleared these up.

She had Kenwardine's slender, well-balanced figure, and her movements were graceful, but Dick's strongest impression was that she was out of place. Though perfectly at ease, she did not fit into her environment: she had a freshness that did not harmonize with cigar smoke and the smell of drink.

"I do not think there would be much difficulty about a new commission, and officers are wanted." "They're not likely to want a man with one eye, and I expect it will come to that," Dick said grimly. His visitor was sympathetic, but left soon afterwards, and Dick thought he was not much wiser about Kenwardine's escape than when he came.

"It looked rather like it from your clothes and the upset in the house," Dick agreed. Jake looked thoughtful. "Well," he said ingenuously, "I have been on a jag before, but I really don't often indulge in that kind of thing, and don't remember drinking enough to knock me out. You see, Kenwardine's a fastidious fellow and sticks to wine. The sort he keeps is light."

It was impossible to prevent the lad from going to Kenwardine's when Clare was there to hear his objections, and he had no doubt that Jake enjoyed his embarrassment. Turning away, he tried to forget the matter by thinking about the coal. Since Kenwardine was at home, it was improbable that he had been at Adexe during the night.

"Well," said the Spaniard, "I think you and the man, Payne, should watch over your friend, but it might be better if you did not tell him you are doing so or ask him any questions, and I would sooner you did not mention this interview. If, however, anything suspicious happens again, it might be an advantage if you let me know. You can send word to me at the hotel." "Not at Kenwardine's?"

"It's a long run and we'll soon burn down the coal, particularly as we'll have to drive her hard to catch the Danish boat," Dick replied. "If we can do that, we'll get Kenwardine's steamer at her last port of call. It's lucky she isn't going direct to Kingston." "You have cut things rather fine, but I suppose you worked it out from the sailing lists.

Struck by something in his tone, Dick ran below and found no luggage in Kenwardine's room. None of the stewards whom he asked had seen him for some time, and a hasty search showed that he was not on deck. Dick went back to Jake. "Do you know where the fellow is?" he asked sharply as Don Sebastian came up. "If you insist, I imagine he's on board the Spanish boat," Jake answered with a chuckle.

"He must have thought so; but we are getting on dangerous ground. I don't know much about the matter. Do you?" Clare lowered her eyes. Since Richter's visit, she had had disturbing doubts about the nature of Kenwardine's business; but after a few moments she asked in a hard, suspicious voice: "How do you know so much about Mr. Brandon?"

"If I knew how I could keep you away, I would do so, but I can, at least, see you as seldom as possible," she said and left him. Jake knitted his brows as he went on to Kenwardine's room. He understood Clare's motive, and admitted that she meant well, but he was not going to stop away because she thought this better for him.