them, her myriad lamps making lovely darts, and sinuous running tongues of ugly red and green and yellow light on the lustrous dark water, under the shadow.

‘Oh get her out! Oh Di, DARLING! Oh get her out! Oh Daddy, Oh Daddy!’ moaned the child’s voice, in distraction. Somebody was in the water, with a life belt. Two boats paddled near, their lanterns swinging ineffectually, the boats nosing round.

‘Hi there — Rockley! — hi there!’

‘Mr Gerald!’ came the captain’s terrified voice. ‘Miss Diana’s in the water.’

‘Anybody gone in for her?’ came Gerald’s sharp voice.

‘Young Doctor Brindell, sir.’