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He passed over his pouch in silence

"When one resteth between His Satanic Majesty and the deep sea it makes small odds at the best which direction he turns It becoly as I deliberately rae into the bowl, "must be about the same to one man as to another, except for matter of tempera, so can I"

"Do you mean you are sufficiently crazy to reed your devoted wife I would rescue you, or never return alive myself As you stubbornly refuse to listen to reason, this seeht differ as to which was crazed, but as to that ill probably neither of us ever know May I trouble you for a light?"

I leaned forward, coolly helping ly between his fingers, and, puffing vigorously, silently resumed my seat

"My wife, say you?" A fresh interest appeared to sweep over hi his indifference "Did Eloise de Noyan send you here seeking to succor me?"

"It was at her request I came; at her wish I stay," I answered firmly

"You knew her?"

"Several years since, when she was scarcely irl; yet she retained sufficient faith to call uponat me as if he would like to question further

"The Lord love us, you are a cool fish," he finally exclai with fresh animation in his soft voice "What is more, I rather like you So Eloise really wishes me to desert the Dons? Queer choice that, for she would make a lovelyOh, well, what's the odds? 'Tis only the question of a ball in the back to-night, or a ball in the front to-morrow If you chance to have a tuck ready for my hand, friend, I 'll try a dash at the deck just for the sport of it"

I shook e without flashing of weapons, or not at all I grant a quick stroke ht win us the open, yet would only serve to rouse the ship; neither of us would ever lift head above the river surface without a bullet in the brain"

"It is the only way fit for a gentlehly aroused at this ill-chosen trifling with time "Either you do as I bid you, or else we settle doithout any more ado, to wait the file to-morro often does the Commandant look in?"