"Oh!" Sara's exclamation was so sharp and eager that both Jack and Anne started.
"I have it!" She leaned forward eagerly as both turned to her. "I know. We 'll make him take us out with the boats to-night. Can you imagine anything more thrilling? I have never been on a naval vessel in my life--and they 'll shoot torpedoes. Night attack, Port Arthur, and all that sort of thing, don't you know."
"Good! Oh, that would be--" She stopped short as a sudden thought came to her. "Do you suppose--" she said slowly, "that you could, Mr. Armitage? I should love the experience. But perhaps--"
"Nonsense," interrupted Sara. "Of course he can take us. Did n't we see that crowd of women on one of the torpedo boats at the King's Cup race?"
"That boat was not in commission," said Jack. "You might be court-martialled if the commanding officer of the flotilla saw you." He spoke lightly, but running clearly through his mind was the uncompromising phraseology of Article 250 of the Navy Regulations: "Officers commanding fleets, divisions, or ships shall not permit women to reside on board of, or take passage in, any ship of the Navy in commission for sea service." Violation of this meant court-martial and perhaps dismissal from the service. And yet Sara's proposition thrilled him potently. He could not deny his eagerness to do as the young women wished. To have Anne at his side for long hours on a footing of equality! As he looked at her now with her lips parted, her eyes blazing with interest, her cheeks flushed, the penalty of disobeying that odious Article 250 seemed, at worst, slight. Besides, the _D'Estang_ was assigned to him for special service to do with her as he saw fit. There might be a loophole there.
Anne, who had been pondering his words, looked up.
"If you are thinking only of us, I should n't mind one bit. I should love dearly to go. I have often seen the torpedo boats from my windows and wished to be on one of them. They look so black and venomous!"
"All right. I'll take you." Armitage looked at them with serious face. "There may be some danger. It is n't yachting, you know."
"Certainly not," echoed Anne. "And besides, Mr. Armitage, I 've never faced real danger in my life--except once when my polo pony ran away. Oh, I want to go!"