'With pleasure,' he replied. 'I had forgotten that to prevent you from
falling I had secured you to the chair'; and with a quick movement
he unfastened the band. Nella stood up, quivering with fiery
annoyance and scorn.
'Now,' she said, fronting him, 'what is the meaning of this?'
'You fainted,' he replied imperturbably. 'Perhaps you don't
remember.'
The man offered her a deck-chair with a characteristic gesture.
Nella was obliged to acknowledge, in spite of herself, that the
fellow had distinction, an air of breeding. No one would have
guessed that for twenty years he had been an hotel waiter. His
long, lithe figure, and easy, careless carriage seemed to be the
figure and carriage of an aristocrat, and his voice was quiet,
restrained, and authoritative.
'That has nothing to do with my being carried off in this yacht of
yours.'
'It is not my yacht,' he said, 'but that is a minor detail. As to the
more important matter, forgive me that I remind you that only a
few hours ago you were threatening a lady in my house with a
revolver.'
'Then it was your house?'
'Why not? May I not possess a house?' He smiled.
'I must request you to put the yacht about at once, instantly, and
take me back.' She tried to speak firmly.
'Ah!' he said, 'I am afraid that's impossible. I didn't put out to sea
with the intention of returning at once, instantly.' In the last words
he gave a faint imitation of her tone.
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