Captain Stump and Mr. Tagg to join as in a bottle of wine? I would put
matters in my own way, yes?"

The Baron, after a slight hesitancy, made his wishes clear. Mr.
Fenshawe and his party would arrive at Marseilles by the _train de
luxe_ next morning, and preparations must be made for instant departure
as soon as they came on board. They would be alarmed needlessly if told
of the affray on the quay, so it was advisable that nothing should be
said about it.

"You see," purred the Baron affably, refilling the glasses which Stump
and Tagg had emptied at a gulp, "ladies, especially young ones, are apt
to be nervous."

"Have we wimmen aboard this trip?" growled Stump in a deep rumble of
disapproval.

"Ladies, yes. Two, and a maid."

Stump bore round on his chief.

"Wot did I tell ye, Tagg?" he demanded fiercely, "Didn't I say that
them fixins aft meant no good?"

"You did," agreed Tagg, with equal asperity.

Von Kerber caught the laughter in Dick's eyes, and checked the angry
protest ready to bubble forth.

"The two _ladies_," he said, speaking with an emphasis which strove to