"Your husband?" repeated Tarzan questioningly.

"Yes. I am the Countess de Coude."

"I am already amply repaid, madame, in knowing that I have rendered
a service to the wife of the Count de Coude."

"Alas, monsieur, I already am so greatly indebted to you that I
may never hope to settle my own account, so pray do not add further
to my obligations," and she smiled so sweetly upon him that Tarzan
felt that a man might easily attempt much greater things than he had
accomplished, solely for the pleasure of receiving the benediction
of that smile.

He did not see her again that day, and in the rush of landing on
the following morning he missed her entirely, but there had been
something in the expression of her eyes as they parted on deck the
previous day that haunted him. It had been almost wistful as they
had spoken of the strangeness of the swift friendships of an ocean
crossing, and of the equal ease with which they are broken forever.

Tarzan wondered if he should ever see her again.





Chapter 3