As was her way when thoroughly aroused, Iris stood up and seized San Benavides almost roughly by the arm.

Her distraught eyes searched his face with a pathetic earnestness.
"Why do you think that the launch did not get away ?" she cried.

"It was dark.

The moon might have been in shadow.

If the launch met the warship and was seen, there must have been firing----" "Chere mademoiselle, there was much firing," he protested.
"At sea ?" The words came dully.