Saint Overboard Read Free Page A

I’ll take you
over, and you can just swim across if you like.”
    “I won’t go with you. Please don’t make
it difficult.”
    “You won’t go without me.”
    He sat down on the companion, filling the
narrow exit with his broad shoulders. She bit her lip.
    “It’s sweet of you,” she said
hesitantly. “But I couldn’t give you any more trouble. I’m not
going.”
    “Then you ought to use those towels and
decide about the brandy and/or coffee,” said the Saint amiably.
“Of course, it may compromise you a bit, but I’m broad-minded. And if
this is going to be Romance, may I start by saying that your mouth is the
loveliest—— ”
    “No, no! I’m not going to let
you row me back.”
    “Then I take it you’ve made up your mind
to stay. That’s what I was talking about. And while we’re on the subject,
don’t you know
that it’s immoral for anyone to have legs like yours? They put the wickedest ideas—— ”
    “Please.” There was a beginning of
reluctant anger creeping into her gaze. “It’s been nice of you to
help me. Don’t spoil it now.”
    Simon Templar inhaled deeply from his
cigarette and said nothing.
    Her grey eyes darkened with a scrap of half-incredulous fear that clashed absurdly with the careless good humour
of his un varying smile. Then, as if
she was putting the ridiculous idea away,
she came forward resolutely and tried to pass him.
    One of his long arms reached out effortlessly
and closed the remainder of the passage. She fought against it, half
playfully at first,
and then with all her lithe young strength; but it was as immovable as a bar of iron. In a sudden flash of
panic savagery she beat at his chest
and shoulders with her fists, but it was like hitting pads of toughened rubber.
He laughed softly, without resentment;
and she became aware that his other hand had been carefully exploring the form of the curious little
pouch on her belt while she fought. She fell back quickly, staring at him.
    “I thought it clunked,” he
murmured, “when I pulled you in. And yet you don’t look as if you had
a cast-iron vanity.”
    Her breath was coming faster now, and he knew
that it was not only from her exertions.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Will you let me out?”
    “No.”
    He liked her spirit. The trace of mischief in
her eyes was gone altogether by this time, frozen into a sparkle of
dangerous exasperation.
    “Have you thought,” she asked slowly, “what would
happen if I screamed?”
    “I suppose it couldn’t help being pretty
musical, as screams go. Your ordinary speaking voice—— ”
    “I could rouse half the harbour.”
    He nodded, without shifting his strategic position on the com panion. “It
looks like being a noisy night.”
    “If you don’t let me go at once—— ”
    Simon Templar extended his legs luxuriously
and blew smoke- rings.
    “Sister,” he said, “have you
stopped to consider what would happen if I screamed?”
    “What?”
    “You see, it isn’t as if this was your
boat. If I’d swum out and invaded you at this hour, and you’d been
wearing pyjamas in stead of me, and more or less the same argument had
taken place —well, I guess you could have screamed most effectively. But
there’s a difference. This tub is mine, and you’re trespassing. Presumably
you couldn’t put up a story that I kidnapped you, because then people
would ask why you hadn’t screamed before. Besides, you’re
wearing a wet bathing costume, which would want a whole lot more
explaining. No—the only thing I can see to it is that you invited yourself. And
the time is now moving on to half-past three
in the morning. Taking it by and large, I can’t help feeling that you’d be answering a lot of embarrassing ques tions about why you took such a long time to get
frightened. Besides which, this is a
French port, with French authorities, and Frenchmen have such a wonderful grip on the facts of life. I am a very retiring sort of bloke,” said the
Saint