"Under arrest?" he repeated. "More of Crawshay's tomfoolery, I
suppose?"

"More of Mr. Crawshay's tomfoolery," the captain acknowledged. "Robins
is accused of having received a Marconigram of which he took no note,
and which he handed to a passenger. He is also accused of attempting
to communicate with an enemy raider."

A peculiar smile parted Jocelyn's lips.

"You seem to wish to make this steamer of yours the _mise-en-scene_ of
a dime novel, Captain," he observed. "I accept the part of villain
with resignation--but I should like to have my bath."

"You don't propose to tell me, then," his questioner persisted, "the
contents of that message?"

"I have no recollection of having received one," Jocelyn replied
coolly. "You are making me very late for breakfast."

They left him with a brusque word of farewell, to which he did not
reply. Jocelyn, in a dark-green silk dressing gown, with a huge sponge
and various silver-topped bottles, departed for the bathroom. The
captain and the purser strolled up on deck.

"What do you make of that fellow, Dix?" the former asked.

The purser coughed.