Dr. DeLancey leaned over to grasp Kathryn. But she shook her head, and
smiled, weakly:

"No," she said. "I--I had to--to take off part of my clothes. I--"

Dr. DeLancey was an old man; some assert that he fell overboard. However,
be that as it may, when he came to the surface, he had his arm around
Kathryn Blair, and she had his long coat draped around her slender
figure.... And, as they lifted her to the deck, she fainted.




[Illustration]

CHAPTER SEVEN.

AN INCIDENT.


Destiny has a sense of humor; a sense of humor sardonic, it is true,
cruel, sometimes grewsome; and yet it is a sense of humor. Otherwise--

There had been in France a man of the nobility--a man in whose veins
flowed the blood of three kings--a man handsome of face, graceful of
figure, debonair--a man who had sinned much, and who had paid for that
sinning only in the sufferings of others; and they had been many.

That man had many estates--many servants--many horses--much money. He had
been to Brittany twice; and only twice. Yet he went a third time, and