"The next number is a waltz, Captain Benson. Truly, I am eager to know how you waltz. It is a sailor"s measure."
"Then perhaps you will favor me with a waltz, later in the evening,"
returned Jack, courteously. "But if I had the impudence to ask you for this waltz, and if you were generous enough to grant it to me, I know what would happen."
"What, my friend?"
The word "friend" was gently spoken, but Jack Benson replied bluntly:
"Some of the men here would lynch me, later in the night, Mlle.
Nadiboff."
The young woman laughed musically, though, as Jack glanced away for an instant, a frown flashed briefly over her face.
"You will not disappoint me, I know, Captain," she murmured, persuasively. "Besides, you are too brave to fear lynching for an act that grants pleasure."
This was so direct that Jack Benson could not well escape. Nor, truth to tell, did he want to. He found Mlle. Nadiboff"s bright, gentle smile most alluring. So, when the music for the waltz sounded the submarine captain led her forth on to the floor.
At the finish, after Jack had led his partner to a seat, Lieutenant Featherstone joined them. One or two others approached, and Benson slipped away, though just before he did so the young woman"s eyes met his with a flash of invitation to seek her again later.
"You"ve been extremely, attentive, but I, imagine some of the other men are combining to thrash you, Jack," smiled Farnum, when Benson returned to his friends.
"Mlle. Nadiboff is a very delightful young woman," Jack answered, heartily. "I"m sorry you don"t dance, Hal."
"If I were very sorry, I"d learn," rejoined Hastings, simply.
During the waltz and the number that followed Jack remained with his friends, looking on.
Then Lieutenant Featherstone, feeling that the Navy must look to the enjoyment of these strangers, came over to them.
"How many of you dance?" inquired the lieutenant.
"Two of us," answered Hal. "I don"t."
"Mr. Farnum, I must introduce you to an agreeable partner," urged the Navy officer. "Who shall it be? I know most of the ladies here."
"Don"t think me a bear, Mr. Featherstone, but I don"t believe I"ll dance to-night, though I thank you tremendously," replied the shipbuilder.
"Then, Benson, you must uphold the honor of your party," laughed the lieutenant, linking his arm in Jack"s and drawing him forward.
Captain Benson"s next dance was with a California girl; after that he led out a jolly young woman from New York. As he left the latter partner, Mlle. Nadiboff, on the arm of a gentleman, pa.s.sed close enough to murmur:
"Captain, you are neglecting me--and I have saved the next, a waltz, for you."
Not being engaged for that waltz, Jack could hardly do, otherwise than claim it. Indeed, he greatly enjoyed dancing with this gracious, handsome young woman. Yet, soon after he had taken Mlle. Nadiboff to her seat, and another partner appeared to claim her favor, Benson slipped away.
"Go after Captain Benson, I beg of you, and bring him back here for a moment," requested the young woman of her new partner. That gentleman obeyed, even if with a poor grace. Jack returned, bowing, while the gentleman walked away a few feet.
"Captain, you are a stranger here at Spruce Beach?" murmured Mlle.
Nadiboff, directing the full gaze of her luminous eyes at Jack"s.
"Yes, truly."
"I go motoring at eleven in the morning. I shall expect you here, at that hour, to drive with me."
Jack looked as regretful as he felt.
"I"m very, very sorry, Mademoiselle" he replied. "But I am here on duty, and--"
"Duty?" she interrupted, with a light laugh. "And pray what is duty, Captain, but a something with which to flavor our pleasures in life?"
"With me, Mlle. Nadiboff," Jack Benson replied, earnestly, "duty is everything, pleasure included."
"I am not accustomed to having my commands disregarded," exclaimed the young woman, though in a low tone, while her eyes flashed some of her displeasure.
"You are giving me pain, Mademoiselle," Jack responded, gravely.
"Perhaps, at another time--"
"Enough sir!" the young woman interposed. "And now I behold my next partner glancing this way appealingly. I shall speak with you the next time we meet, Captain."
Jack bowed, withdrawing. Making his way around the ballroom, he dropped into a seat beside Mr. Farnum.
Even before Mlle. Nadiboff"s partner could rejoin her, M. Lemaire appeared around a palm at Mlle. Nadiboff"s back as naturally as though he had not been playing the eavesdropper.
"Have a care, Sara," he whispered, mockingly, "or you will fail in making a fool of that young fellow!"
Half way through the next dance Jack and his friends remained in their seats. Then Hal, stifling a yawn behind his hand, remarked:
"I"ve a notion that I shall be asleep in a few minutes. Late hours, except on duty, don"t jibe with our line of work."
"They don"t," admitted Captain Jack, rising.
"Good, boys!" nodded Mr. Farnum, approvingly, as he also rose. "The more rest you have the keener your wits will be for your work."
So they left the ballroom, observed by but few.
Five minutes later Mlle. Nadiboff sat surrounded by three men, with whom she was chatting gayly. M. Lemaire approached her. She greeted him so pointedly that the other three men soon fell away.
"I can hardly congratulate you, Sara," hissed M. Lemaire, speaking in French.
"You think I have not made young Benson attentive enough to my whims?"
the young woman asked, plaintively.
"Attentive?" sneered M. Lemaire. "Do you know where he is now?"
"No," admitted Mlle. Nadiboff.
"He has gone away upstairs with his friends, that they may all be prepared for an early and full day"s work."
"You are jesting with me," protested Mlle. Nadiboff, indignantly.