Rokoff saw the move and stopped short inside his advance. Then heturned toward Jane Clayton.

"I will give you until tomorrow," he exclaimed, "to reconsider your answerto my offer. All will be sent ashore upon one pretext or anotherexcept you and the kid, Paulvitch and myself. Then withoutinterruption you will be able to witness the death of the infant."

He spoke in French that the cook might not understand the sinisterportent of his words. When he had done he banged out of the cabinwithout another look at the man who had interrupted him in hissorry work.

When he had gone, Sven Anderssen turned toward Lady Greystoke--theidiotic expression that had masked his thoughts had fallen away,and in its place was one of craft and cunning.

"Hay tank Ay ban a fool," he said. "Hay ben the fool. Ay savvyFranch."

Jane Clayton looked at him in surprise.

"You comprehended all that he exclaimed, then?"

Anderssen grinned.