Hilliard, suspicious and critically observant, wondered if he had
not interrupted a second rapid look between father and daughter.
He could not be sure, but at all events the girl hastened to second
her father's invitation.

"I hope you will wait for dinner," she said. "As he says, we see
so few people, and particularly so few English, that it would be
doing us a kindness. I'm afraid that's not very complimentary" -
she laughed brightly - "but it's at least true."

They stayed and enjoyed themselves. Mr. Coburn proved himself an
entertaining host, and his conversation, though satirical, was worth
listening to. He and Hilliard talked, while Merriman, who was
something of a musician, tried over songs with Miss Coburn. Had it
not been for an uneasy feeling that they were to some extent playing
the part of spies, the evening would have been a delight to the
visitors.

Before they left for the launch it was arranged that they should
stay over the following day, lunch with the Coburns, and go for a
tramp through the forest in the afternoon. They took their leave
with cordial expressions of good will.

"I say, Merriman," Hilliard said eagerly as they strolled back
through the wood, "did you notice how your sudden appearance upset
them both? There can be no further doubt about it, there's something.
What it may be I don't know, but there is something."

"There's nothing wrong at all events," Merriman asserted doggedly.