My cigarette case, Annette, and electric lamp. I shall
read for half an hour."
She dismissed us all. Adele and I moved away as though by common consent.
Mr. de Valentin followed with the two other girls, though I had noticed
that his first impulse had been to take possession of Adele. She avoided
the others skilfully, however, and we strolled off to the farther end of
the ship.
"Your stepmother," I remarked, "seems to be a very amiable person!"
"She can be anything she likes," Adele answered--"upon occasions."
We turned on to the weather side of the ship, which was almost deserted.
Adele glanced behind. Mr. de Valentin and the two girls were still within
a few feet of us.
"Do you mind walking on the lower deck?" she asked. "I want to talk to
you, and I am sure that we shall be disturbed here."
"With pleasure!" I answered quickly. "I, too, have something to say to
you."
We descended in silence to the promenade deck. Here we had the place
almost to ourselves. Adele did not beat about the bush.
"Mr. Courage," she said, "tell me what you thought when you saw me on
this steamer!"
She looked me full in the face.
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