Donovan knows his business. He's gone without putting back the bricks.
He has mulcted me for two days' work."

"But crossing in the yacht," hesitated Fitzgerald. He wished to sound
this man Breitmann. If he suggested obstacles and difficulties it
would be a confirmation of the telegram and his own singular doubts.

"It is likely to be a rough passage," said Breitmann experimentally.

"He doesn't want me to go." Fitzgerald stroked his chin slyly.

"We have crossed the Atlantic twice in the yacht," Laura affirmed with
a bit of pride; "once in March too, and a heavy sea half the way."

"Enter me as cabin-boy or supercargo," said Fitzgerald. "If you don't
you'll find a stowaway before two days out."

"That's the spirit." The admiral drew strongly on his cigar. He had
really never been so excited since his first sea-engagement. "And it
comes in so pat, Laura. We were going away in a month anyway. Now we
can notify the guests that we've cut down the time two weeks. I tell
you what it is, this will be the greatest cruise I ever laid a course
to."

"Guests?" murmured Fitzgerald, unconsciously poaching on Breitmann's
thought.

"Yes. But they shall know nothing till we land in Corsica. And in a
day or two this fellow would have laid hands on these things and we'd
never been any the wiser."