“I hope I’ve done right,” she said, somewhat nervously.  “It was no good to anybody laying idle and being wasted.  I haven’t stolen anything.”

“No, no,” said Tredgold, hastily.

“It seems ridiculous for all that money to be wasted,” continued Miss Vickers, musingly.  “It doesn’t belong to anybody, so nobody can be hurt by our taking it, and we can do a lot of good with it, if we like.  I shall give some of mine away to the poor.  We all will.  I’ll have it put in this paper.”

She fumbled in her bodice for the document, and walked towards them.

“We can’t alter it now,” said Mr. Tredgold, decidedly.

“We’ll do what’s right,” said Mr. Chalk, reassuringly.

Miss Vickers smiled at him.  “Yes, I know you will,” she said, graciously,” and I think Mr. Tredgold will, but—­”

“You’re leaving that door open,” said Mr. Stobell, coldly,” and the draught’s blowing my head off, pretty near.”

Miss Vickers eyed him scornfully, but in the absence of a crushing reply disdained one at all.  She contented herself instead by going outside and closing the door after her with a sharpness which stirred every hair on his head.

“It’s a most extraordinary thing,” said Mr. Chalk, as the three bent exultingly over the map.  “I could ha’ sworn to this map in a court of justice.”

“Don’t you worry your head about it,” advised Mr. Stobell.

“You’ve got your way at last,” said Tredgold, with some severity.  “We’re going for a cruise with you, and here you are raising objections.”

“Not objections,” remonstrated the other;” and, talking about the voyage, what about Mrs. Chalk?  She’ll want to come.”

“So will Mrs. Stobell,” said that lady’s proprietor,” but she won’t.”

“She mustn’t hear of it till the last moment,” said Tredgold, dictatorially; “the quieter we keep the whole thing the better.  You’re not to divulge a word of the cruise to anybody.  When it does leak out it must be understood we are just going for a little pleasure jaunt.  Mind, you’ve sworn to keep the whole affair secret.”

Mr. Chalk screwed up his features in anxious perplexity, but made no comment.

“The weather’s fine,” continued Tredgold,” and there’s nothing gained by delay.  On Wednesday we’ll take the train to Biddlecombe and have a look round.  My idea is to buy a small, stout sailing-craft second-hand; ship a crew ostensibly for a pleasure trip, and sail as soon as possible.”

Mr. Chalk’s face brightened.  “And we’ll take some beads, and guns, and looking-glasses, and trade with the natives in the different islands we pass,” he said, cheerfully.  “We may as well see something of the world while we’re about it.”

Mr. Tredgold smiled indulgently and said they would see.  Messrs. Stobell and Chalk, after a final glance at the map and a final perusal of the instructions at the back, took their departure.