The Pagan Madonna - Page 84/141

Jane gazed through the doorway at the sea. There was apparently no

horizon, no telling where the sea ended and the faded blue of the sky

began. There was something about this sea she did not like. She was

North-born. It seemed to her that there was really less to fear from the

Atlantic fury than from these oily, ingratiating, rolling mounds. They

were the Uriah Heep of waters. She knew how terrible they could be, far

more terrible than the fiercest nor'easter down the Atlantic. Typhoon! How

could a yacht live through a hurricane? She turned again toward

Cunningham.

"You are like that," she said, irrelevantly.

"Like what?"

"Like the sea."

Cunningham rose and peered under the half-drawn blind.

"That may be complimentary, but hanged if I know! Smooth?--is that what

you mean?"

"Kind of terrible."

He sat down again.

"That rather cuts. I might be terrible. I don't know--never met the

occasion; but I do know that I'm not treacherous. You certainly are not

afraid of me."

"I don't exactly know. It's--it's too peaceful."

"To last? I see. But it isn't as though I were forcing you to go through

with the real voyage. Only a few days more, and you'll have seen the last

of me."

"I hope so."

He chuckled.

"What I meant was," she corrected, "that nothing might happen, nobody get

hurt. Human beings can plan only so far."

"That's true enough. Every programme is subject to immediate change. But,

Lord, what a lot of programmes go through per schedule! Still, you are

right. It all depends upon chance. We say a thing is cut and dried, but we

can't prove it. But so far as I can see into the future, nothing is going

to happen, nobody is going to walk the plank. Piracy on a basis of 2.75

per cent.--the kick gone out of it! But if you can bring about the

reconciliation of the Cleighs the old boy will not be so keen for chasing

me all over the map when this job is done."

"Will you tell me what those beads are?"

"To be sure I will--all in due time. What does Cleigh call them?"

"Love beads!" scornfully.

"On my solemn word, that's exactly what they are."

"Very well. But remember, you promise to tell me when the time comes."

"That and other surprising things."

"I'll be going."

"Come up as often as you like."