Lord Arleigh's voice. Nothing could ever drown that for her. The band
was playing, the captain talking, the duchess conversing, in her gay,
animated fashion; but above all, clearly and distinctly, Philippa heard
every word that fell from Lord Arleigh's lips, although he did not know
it. He believed that she was, as she seemed to be, listening to the
captain.

"I have pleasing news concerning you, Lord Arleigh," said the duchess.
"I wonder if I may congratulate you?"

"What is it? I do not know of anything very interesting concerning
myself," he remarked--"nothing, I am sure, that calls for
congratulation."

"You are modest," said the duchess; "but I have certainly heard, and on
good authority, too, that you are about to be married."

"I can only say I was not in the least aware of it," he rejoined.

The duchess raised her parasol and looked keenly at him.

"Pray pardon me," she continued; "do not think that it is from mere
curiosity that I ask the question. Is there really no truth in the
report?"

"None whatever," he replied. "I have no more idea of being married than
I have of sailing this moment for the Cape."

"It is strange," said the duchess, musingly; "I had the information from
such good authority, too."