He was able to relax his grip of
the rail. He turned towards Lucille, and she saw him for the first
time distinctly--a thin, wizened-up little man, with shrewd kindly
eyes, and a long deeply cut mouth.
"I trust," he said, "that you will not think me impertinent, but it
occurred to me that you have noticed some apparent interest of mine
in your movements since you arrived on the boat."
Lucille nodded.
"It is true," she answered. "That is why I came and stood by your
side. What do you want with me?"
"Nothing, madam," he answered. "I am here altogether in your
interests. If you should want help I shall be somewhere near you
for the next few hours. Do not hesitate to appeal to me. My
mission here is to be your protector should you need one."
Lucille's eyes grew bright, and her heart beat quickly.
"Tell me," she said, "who sent you?"
He smiled.
"I think that you know," he answered. "One who I can assure you
will never allow you to suffer any harm. I have exceeded my
instructions in speaking to you, but I fancied that you were looking
worried. You need not. I can assure you that you need have no
cause."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I knew," she said, "that those telegrams were forgeries."
He looked carefully around.
"I know nothing about any telegrams," he said, "but I am here to
see that no harm comes to you, and I promise you that it shall not.
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