Mr. Heatherbloom experienced a thrill of satisfaction.  They were nearer the coast than he had supposed.  He knew the yacht had been taking a southerly course; he had considered that when the bold idea came to act as he was doing.  Possibly the prince had been driven out of the last port by the publicity attendant upon Mr. Heatherbloom’s presence there, before certain needed repairs had been completed.  These, Mr. Heatherbloom now surmised, it was his excellency’s intention to have attended to in some island harbor before proceeding with a longer voyage.

Only five hours!

“Good-by!” now burst from the nobleman so violently that Mr. Heatherbloom’s momentary exultation changed to a feeling of apprehension.  But M. le Capitaine had evidently become accustomed to occasional explosive moments from his august patron.  He concerned himself only with the command, not the manner in which it was given.

“Eh? Mon Dieu!  Do I hear your excellency aright?” His accents expressed surprise, but not of an immoderate nature.  He, no doubt, received many arbitrary and unexpected orders when his excellency went a-cruising.

“Repeat the order.”  Heatherbloom’s whisper seemed fairly to sting the nobleman’s disengaged ear.

The latter did repeat—­savagely—­jerkily, but the humming wires tempered the tones.  M. le Capitaine understood fully; he said as much; his excellency should be obeyed—­Mr. Heatherbloom pushed the nobleman’s head abruptly aside, covering the mouthpiece with his hand.  Perhaps he divined that irresistible malediction about to fall from his excellency’s lips.

“Hang it up,” he said.

The nobleman’s breath was labored but he placed his receiver where it belonged; Mr. Heatherbloom did likewise.  Both now stepped back.  Upon the prince’s brow stood drops of perspiration.  The yacht had already slowed up and was turning.  His excellency listened.

“May I ask how much longer you are desirous of my company here?”

“Oh, yes; you may ask.”

The boat had begun to quiver again; she was going at full speed once more.  Only now she headed directly for the land Mr. Heatherbloom wished to see.  Five hours to an American port!  Then?  He glanced toward the door through which the girl had disappeared.  Since that moment he had caught no sound from her.  Had she heard, did she know anything of what was happening—­that the yacht was now turned homeward?  He dared not linger on the thought.  The prince was watching him with eyes that seemed to dilate and contract.  A moment’s carelessness, the briefest cessation of watchfulness would be at once seized upon by his excellency, enabling him to shift the advantage.  The young man met that expectant gleam.

“Sorry to seem officious, but if your excellency will sit down once more?  Not here—­over there!” Indicating a stationary arm-chair before a desk in a recess of the room.

The prince obeyed; he had no alternative.  The fellow must, of course, be a madman, the prince reiterated in his own mind unless—­