opportunity of setting her brother right. At the same moment Natalie laid down her knife and softly touched Launce under the table. When she thus claimed his attention the six pieces of ham were arranged as follows in her plate: Two pieces were placed opposite each other, and four pieces were ranged perpendicularly under them. Launce looked, and twice touched Natalie under the table. Interpreted by the Code agreed on between the two, the signal in the plate meant, “I must see you in private.” And Launce’s double touch answered, “After breakfast.”
Sir Joseph proceeded with his story. Natalie took up her knife again. Another signal coming!
“We were both down in the cabin, occupied in finishing our dinner—”
“Just sitting down to lunch, Joseph.”
“My dear! I ought to know.”
“I only repeat what I heard, brother. The last time you told the story, you and your friend were sitting down to lunch.”
“We won’t particularize, Lavinia. Suppose we say occupied over a meal?”
“If it is of no more importance than that, Joseph, it would be surely better to leave it out altogether.”
“Let us waive the point. Well, we were suddenly alarmed by a shout on deck, ‘Man over-board!’ We both rushed up the cabin stairs, naturally under the impression that one of our crew had fallen into the sea: an impression shared, I ought to add, by the man at the helm, who had given the alarm.”
Sir Joseph paused again. He was approaching one of the great dramatic points in his story, and was naturally anxious to present it as impressively as possible. He considered with himself, with his head a little on one side. Miss Lavinia considered with herself, with her head a little on one side. Natalie laid down her knife again, and again touched Launce under the table. This time there were five pieces of ham ranged longitudinally on the plate, with one piece immediately under them at the center of the line. Interpreted by the Code, this signal indicated two ominous words, “Bad news.” Launce looked significantly at the owner of the yacht
Prev.
Back
Top