On board the Doraine,--as was the case with all other vessels on which he chose to sail,--the banker sat at the Captain's table.

But he did not consider that to be a distinction or an honour; it was his due.

As a matter of fact, he looked upon himself as the real head of the Captain's table! Half a dozen persons in all that company comprised Landover's circle of desirables.

Of the rest, most of them were impossible, three-fourths of them were "anarchists," all of them were beneath notice,--except as listeners.

As for Percival, if that young man was not literally and actually a bandit, at least he had all the instincts of one.