\"Nothing，nothing……Tellme，howmanymenhaveyouinthatyacht？\"
\"Twenty—three，besidesthegentry，theowner，hiswifeandaSpanishgentleman——afriendtheypickedupinManila。\"
\"SoyouwerecomingfromManila？\"
\"Aye。BoundforBatavia。TheownerwishestostudytheDutchcolonialsystem。Wantstoexposeit，hesays。Onecan’thelphearingalotwhenkeepingwatchaft——youknowhowitis。ThenwearegoingtoCeylontomeetthemail—boatthere。Theownerisgoinghomeashecameout，overlandthroughEgypt。TheyachtwouldreturnroundtheCape，ofcourse。\"
\"Alady？\"saidLingard。\"Yousaythereisaladyonboard。Areyouarmed？\"