"You mustn't conclude that I am a coward because I don't care to boast. On the contrary, I believe I am not exactly deficient in physical courage."
"You are not?" she cried, relieved. "Then--then you would not be afraid to face a desperate man?"
"Not a dozen desperate men, if it comes to that!" said Peter, supported by the certainty that it would not come to so much as half a desperate man.
"Then I can tell you _now_ what I have scarcely dared to think of before. Peter, you will have to reckon with Alfred!"
"Well, I'm not much alarmed at anything _Alfred_ may do!" said Peter, wondering who the deuce Alfred was.
"He will come on board; he will demand an explanation; he will insist on seeing you!" she cried.
"You are brave--braver even than I thought; but, ah! Peter, you don't know what Alfred is!"
Peter did not even know who Alfred was, but he was unmoved.
"You leave Alfred to me," he said confidently, "I'll settle _him_!"
"But I must tell you all. I--I led you to believe that Alfred would raise no objections; that he would quietly accept facts which it is useless to contend against. He will do nothing of the sort! He is a man of violent passions--fierce and relentless when wronged. In the first burst of fury at meeting you, when he comes on board, he is capable of some terrible vengeance, which nothing but perfect coolness on your part--perhaps not even that--will be able to avert. And I--I have brought this upon you!"
"Don't cry," said Peter. "You see, I'm perfectly calm. _I_ don't mind it. If Alfred considers himself wronged by me--though, what I have ever done to give him any reason for revenging himself by personal violence, I must say I can't conceive----"
"Ah! you have given him cause enough!" she cried. "What is the use of taking that tone to me?"
"I want to see Alfred's point of view, that's all," said Peter. "What does he complain of?"
"_What does he complain of?_ You ask me that, when---- Peter," she broke off suddenly, "there is somebody round the corner listening to us--a woman, I'm sure of it. I heard the rustle of a dress.... Go and see if there is not!"
Go and see, and find himself face to face with Miss Tyrrell, who might faint or go into hysterics: Peter knew better than that.