Atlantic coast with his eyes shut. Laura, you get the whisky and sugar
and hot water. You haven't brought me a secretary, but you have
brought under my roof the son of an old friend."

She laughed. It was rich and free-toned laughter, good for any man to
hear. As she went to prepare the toddy, the music echoed again through
the hall.

"Sometimes I wake up in the morning with a new gray hair," sighed the
admiral. "What would you do with a girl like that?"

"I'd hang on to her as long as I could," earnestly.

"I shall," grimly. "Your father and I were old friends. There wasn't
a yacht on these waters that could show him her heels, not even my own.
You don't mean to tell me you're no yachtsman! Why, it ought to be in
the blood."

"Oh, I can handle small craft, but I don't know much about the
engine-room. What time does the next train return to New York?"

"For you there'll be no train under a week. You're going to stay here,
since you've been the victim of a hoax."

"Disabuse your mind there, sir. I don't know when I've enjoyed
anything so thoroughly."

"But you'll stay? Oh, yes!" as Fitzgerald shook his head. "The
secretary can do the work here while you and I can take care of the
rats in the hold. Laura's just imagining things, but we'll humor her.