III

nsandearth,whathadhedone? Heclungtotherail,staringmiserablyoverthesideintotheoilywater.Someofthepassengerslingeredtowatchhim,atfirstbecausetheythoughthewasgoingtobeseasickwithsolittleprovocationthatitamountedtogenius,andafterwardsbecausetheyweresurehemustwanttocommitsuicide.Whentheyfoundthattimepassedandhedidneither,hebecameunpopular,andtheywentawayandlefthimaltogetherandcontemptuouslyalone. "Fritzi,areyouworriedaboutanything?"askedPriscilla,comingtowherehestillstoodstaring,althoughtheyhadgottoDover. Worried!WhenallEuropewasgoingtobeabouttheirears?Whenhewasintheeyesoftheworldacriminal—anaider,abettor,lurer-awayofyouthandimpulsiveness?HelovedthePrincesssomuchthathecarednothingforhisownrisks,butwhatabouthers?Inanagonyofhasteherushedtohisidealsandprinciplesforjustificationandcomfort,tumblingthemover,searchingfeverishlyamongthem.Theyhadforsakenhim.Theyweresomuchlifelessrubbish.NowhereinhismindcouldhefindaragofeithercomfortorjustificationwithwhichtostopuphisearsagainstthewordsofthetwoEnglishmenandhiseyesagainstthedreadfulsighthefeltsureawaitedthemonthequayatDover—thesightofincensedauthoritiesreadytopounceonhimanddraghimawayforeverfromhisPrincess. Priscillagazedathiminastonishment.Hewastakingnonoticeofher,andwaslookingfearfullyupanddowntherowoffacesthatwerewatchingtheturbine'sarrival. "Fritzi,ifyouareworrieditmustbebecauseyou'venotslept,"saidPriscilla,layingherhandwithastrokinglittlemovementonhissleeveforwhatbutoverwroughtnervescouldmakehimlooksoodd?ItwasafterallFritzingwhohadbehavedwiththebravenessofalionthenightbeforeinthatmatterofthepolicemananditwashewhohadaskedinsterntonesofrebuke,whenhercourageseemedaflicker,whethersherepented."Youdonotrepent?"sheasked,imitatingthatsternness. "Ma'am—"hebeganinalowanddreadfulvoice,hiseyesceaselesslyrangingupanddownthefiguresonthequay. "Sh—sh—Niece,"interruptedPriscilla,smiling. Heturnedandlookedatherasamanmaylookforthelasttimeatthethinginlifethathasbeenmostdeartohim,andsaidnothing.