help you I will."

He thanked me and we went to the dining-saloon. There, at a table
near ours, we saw the lovely lady and Stumps and the American. She
again smiled at me, but this time, so it seemed, a little
doubtfully.

In the mind of the American, on the contrary, there was no doubt.
He glared both at Kinney and myself, as though he would like to
boil us in oil.

After dinner, in spite of my protests, Kinney set forth to
interview him and, as he described it, to "lead him on" to commit
himself. I feared Kinney was much more likely to commit himself
than the other, and when I saw them seated together I watched from
a distance with much anxiety.

An hour later, while I was alone, a steward told me the purser
would like to see me. I went to his office, and found gathered
there Stumps, his American friend, the night watchman of the boat,
and the purser. As though inviting him to speak, the purser nodded
to the American. That gentleman addressed me in an excited and
belligerent manner.

"My name is Aldrich," he said; "I want to know what YOUR name is?"

I did not quite like his tone, nor did I like being summoned to the
purser's office to be questioned by a stranger.

"Why?" I asked.