“I was, but I changed my mind at the last moment.  It is far more comfortable going down by boat than it is by stage.  Then, the thought of the pleasure of your society on the journey—­” He was smiling, rather maliciously.

“Yes, yes, of course!” somewhat dismally.

“But now, to be frank with you, you don’t seem altogether happy.  Why do you want to be rid of me?  What harm have I done?” smiled Dunwody.

“Oh, my dear sir!”

“May not one change his mind if he likes?”

“My dear sir, there is no argument about that.”

“Certainly not!  The only argument is on the previous question—­When are you going to introduce me as you should, to that extremely beautiful young lady who is with you?”

“Good God, my very dear sir!”

“You are not ‘my dear sir’ at all, so long as you try to hoodwink me,” persisted Dunwody, still smiling.  “Come, now, what are you doing here, west bound with a young and charming person who is not your wife, widow, mother, daughter, fiancee or sister—­who is not—­”

“That will do, if you please!” Carlisle’s hot temper named into his freckled face.

“Why so touchy?”

“It is within a man’s rights to choose his own company and his own ways.  I am not accountable, except as I choose.”

The other man was studying him closely, noting his flush, his irritation, his uneasiness.  “But what I am saying now is that it is cruel, unusual, inhuman and unconstitutional to be so selfish about it.  Come, I shall only relent when you have shown yourself more kind.  For instance, in the matter of her table in the dining-room—­”

“The lady has expressed a desire to remain quite alone, my dear sir.  I must bow to her will.  It is her privilege to come and go as she likes.”

“She may come and go as she likes?” queried Dunwody, still smiling.  There was a look on his face which caused Carlisle suddenly to turn and examine him sharply.

“Naturally.”

“Without your consent, even?”

“Absolutely so.”

“Then why should she have sent me this little message?” demanded Dunwody suddenly.  He presented a folded bit of paper, snapping it on the back with a finger.

A still deeper flush spread over the young officer’s telltale face.  He opened and read:  “If you care to aid a woman who is in trouble, come to me at room 19 when you can.”

“When did you receive this?” he demanded.  “By God!” he added, to himself, “she did it, too!”

“Within the moment.  Her maid brought it.”

“You didn’t have this before you came on board—­but of course, that wasn’t possible.”

Dunwody looked at him keenly.  “You have just heard me,” he said.  “No, I don’t deny there are some things here which I can’t understand.  You are covering up something, my dear Captain, of course, but just what I do not know.  Your station in life, your presence in this country, so far from home!—­” He smiled now in a way which his antagonist considered sinister.  Yet what defense could be made without exposing secrets which were not his to uncover?