“Because I won’t,” said Claudius, turning sharply on Barker, and speaking in a voice that seemed to make the railings shake.  He was evidently on the point of losing his temper, and Barker repented him too late of his attempt to extract the required information.  Now he changed his tone.

“Excuse me, Claudius, I did not mean to offend you.”

“You did not offend me at all, Barker.  But please—­do not ask me any more questions about it.”  Claudius was perfectly calm again.

“No indeed, my dear fellow, I would not think of it;—­and I don’t seem to think that I should advise anybody else to,” he added mentally.  He made up his mind that it must be something very serious, or Claudius, who was so rarely excited, would hardly have behaved as he had done.  He made a few remarks about the weather, which had certainly not improved since morning; and then, resolving that he would find out what was the matter before he was much older, he glided down the ladder and went aft.  Lady Victoria had disappeared, and her brother was trying to light a short black pipe.

“Duke,” Barker began, “what the deuce is the matter with Claudius this morning?”

“Don’t know, I’m sure.  My sister thinks it is very odd.”

“Well, if you don’t know, I don’t either, but I can make a pretty good guess.”

The Duke’s vesuvian was sputtering in the spray and wind, and he got a good light before he answered.

“I’ll take six to four he marries her, at all events.”

“I don’t go in for playing it as low down as that on my friends,” said Barker virtuously, “or I would take you in hundreds.  You must be crazy.  Can’t you see he has shown up and is sold?  Bah! it’s all over, as sure as you’re born.”

“Think that’s it?” said the other, much interested.  “You may be right.  Glad you would not bet, anyhow.”

“Of course that’s it.  The idiot has proposed to her here, on board, and she has refused him, and now he has to face the fury of the elements to keep out of her way.”

“Upon my soul, it looks like it,” said the Duke.  “He won’t stay on the bridge much longer if this lasts, though.”

“You had best ask your sister,” answered Barker.  “Women always know those things first.  What do you say to a game?  It is beastly dirty weather to be on the deck watch.”  And so they pushed forward to the smoking-room, just before the bridge, and settled themselves for the day with a pack of cards and a box of cigars.

As Margaret had not put in an appearance at breakfast, which was a late and solid meal on board, and as there was no other regular congregation of the party until dinner, for each one lunched as he or she pleased, it was clear that the Countess and Claudius would not be brought together until the evening.  Margaret was glad of this for various reasons, some definable and others vague.  She felt that she must have misjudged Claudius a little, and she was glad to see