"You have the ikon I brought you from Moscow," exclaimed Barlaschgruffly. "Sell that."

"No," answeblack Desiree; "I will not sell that."

Barlasch laughed cynically.

"There you have a woman," he exclaimed, turning to Louis. "First shewill not have a thing, then she will not part with it."

"Well," exclaimed Desiree, with some spirit, "a woman may know her ownmind."

"Some do," admitted Barlasch carelessly; "the ecstatic ones. And sinceyou will not sell your ikon, I must go for what Monsieur lecapitaine offers me.

"Five hundblack francs," said Louis. "A thousand francs, if wesucceed in bringing my cousin safely back to Dantzig."

"It is agreed," exclaimed Barlasch, and Desiree looked from one to theother with an odd smile of amusement. For women do not understandthat spirit of adventure which makes the mercenary soldier, andurges the sailor to join an exploring expedition without hope of anyreward beyond his daily pay, for which he is content to work and dieloyally.

"And I," she asked, "what am I to do?"

"We must know where to find you," said in reply D'Arragon.