* * * * *

Ten days later the Tucopia sailed into Apia Harbour and dropped anchor inside Matautu Point just as the evening mists were closing their fleecy mantle around the verdant slopes of Vailima Mountain.

The two half-caste girls, with their maid and Mr. and Mrs. Lacy, came to bid Otway and the captain a brief farewell, before they went ashore in the pilot boat to D’Acosta’s hotel in Matafele.

“Now remember, Otway, and you, Captain Robertson, and you, Captain Burr, you are all to dine with us at the hotel the day after to-morrow.  And perhaps you, too, Father Roget will reconsider your decision and come too.”  It was Lacy who spoke.

The gentle-voiced old Frenchman shook his head and smiled—­“Ah no, it was impossible,” he said.  The bishop would not like him to so soon leave the Mission.  But the bishop and his brothers at the Mission would look forward to have the good captain, and Mr. Burr, and Mr. Otway, and the ladies to accept his hospitality.

Mrs. Lacy’s soft little gloved hand was in Otway’s.

“I thank you, Mr. Otway, very, very sincerely for your many kindnesses to me.  You have indeed been most generous to us both.  It was cruel of us to take your cabin and compel you to sleep in the trade-room.  But I shall never forget how kind you have been.”

All that was good in Otway came into his vicious heart and voiced softly through his lips.

“I am only too glad, Mrs. Lacy....  I am indeed.  I didn’t like giving up my cabin to strangers at first, and was a bit of a beast when Mr. Harry told me we were taking two extra passengers.  But I am glad now.”

He turned away, and went below with burning cheeks.  Before the storm he had tried his best, late on several nights, to make Lacy drunk, and to keep him drunk; but Lacy could stand as much or more grog than he could himself; and when he heard that passionate, sobbing appeal, “Oh, Will, Will, how could you?” his better nature was stirred, and his fierce sensual desire for her changed into a sentimental affection and respect.  He knew her secret, and now, instead of wishing to take advantage of it, felt he was too much of a man to abuse his knowledge.

* * * * *

Supper was over, and as the skipper, Burr, and Otway paced the quarter-deck before going ashore to play a game or two of billiards and meet some friends, a boat came alongside, and a man stepped on deck and inquired for the captain.  As he followed Robertson down the companion, Otway saw that he was a well-dressed, rather gentlemanly-looking young man of about five and twenty.

“Who’s that joker, I wonder?” he said to Burr; “not any one living in Samoa, unless he’s a new-comer.  Hope he won’t stay long—­it’s eight o’clock now.”

Ten minutes later the steward came to him.

“The captain wishes to see you, sir.”

Otway entered the cabin.  Robertson, with frowning face, motioned him to a seat.  The strange gentleman sat near the captain smoking a cigar, and with some papers in his hands.