Harding, Esq., On Board Yacht Lotus.

Count de Cadenet and his servant repaired immediately to
the count's rooms, there to await an answer to the note. Henri
Theriere, the second officer of the Halfmoon, in frock coat
and silk hat looked every inch a nobleman and a gentleman.
What his past had been only he knew, but his polished
manners, his knowledge of navigation and seamanship, and
his leaning toward the ways of the martinet in his dealings
with the men beneath him had led Skipper Simms to assume
that he had once held a commission in the French Navy, from
which he doubtless had been kicked--in disgrace.

The man was cold, cruel, of a moody disposition, and
quick to anger. He had been signed as second officer for this
cruise through the intervention of Divine and Clinker. He had
sailed with Simms before, but the skipper had found him too
hard a customer to deal with, and had been on the point of
seeking another second when Divine and Clinker discovered
him on board the Halfmoon and after ten minutes' conversation
with him found that he fitted so perfectly into their
scheme of action that they would not hear of Simms' releasing
him.

Ward had little use for the Frenchman, whose haughty
manner and condescending airs grated on the sensibilities of
the uncouth and boorish first officer. The duty which necessitated
him acting in the capacity of Theriere's servant was
about as distasteful to him as anything could be, and only
served to add to his hatred for the inferior, who, in the