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“Irina!” cried Marion as the lights came back on, “That was splendid Thank you”

Irina stood and bowed “Could we have a hand for the players?”

The Humanova troupe stepped out frouests clapped

Isaac Bell shook the actors’ hands, pressing into each a ten-dollar gold piece “Thank you for a memorable performance”

“Would that we could have rehearsed longer,” one sighed, “but Madeue”

The wedding party trooped down Mauretania’s grand staircase to the dining saloon Bell and Marionand fielding questions

“To the beautiful bride!” shouted a red-faced Chi for a refill “Und to you, Mr Bell, as ve say in Gerehabt!”

“Which et lucky!”

“Danke schön!” Bell grinned back

They weretheir way back to their own table when Clyde Lynds hurried up, his face pale, his expression grave “Mr Bell!”

“Are you all right, Clyde?”

“I can’t find the Professor anywhere He’s not in his cabin, he’s not on deck, he’s not here, and he’s not in the Second Class dining room”

“When did he leave the party?”

“Before the cereain” Lynds lowered his voice and whispered, “I had a feeling he was heading down to the baggage rooms I went down there I didn’t see him I checked both of them, back in the stern and up in the bow He wasn’t in, either”

“Why would he go there?”