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dreadful man was mocking her. Without even taking time to think through what she was doing, she pushed back her chair and stood. Lifting her skirts, she strode toward the maitre d’. As she flounced past, Chase studied her straight back, her chin jutted in defiance. Then, with a smile of confidence, his gaze returned to the cards in his hand.
    Annalisa’s honeyed voice was laced with outrage. "I wish to report a cheat at the poker table."
    The maitre d’ looked properly horrified. Several heads swiveled at her aggrieved tone.
    "My dear young lady. We run an honest game on the City of Memphis. A member of the crew, chosen by the captain himself, oversees the entire operation."
    "This man is very clever. But I can assure you, he is cheating.
    The man bowed slightly at her fury. "Very well. If you will point him out."
    "That one," she said, darting a quick glance at the table. "The man in the black jacket, with the gold chain across his vest."
    The maitre d’ spoke to two towering waiters, who immediately advanced toward the poker tables. With her hands on her hips, Annalisa tossed her head and waited, determined to see justice done, no matter who was hurt. Sister Marie Therese would be proud of the way she handled this matter.
    In fascinated horror, Annalisa watched as the two waiters stopped at the wrong table and positioned themselves at either side of a white-haired man in a black jacket. Realizing their error, Annalisa turned to explain to the maitre d’. Just then a string of oaths caused everyone to turn in the direction of the poker table. The accused reacted with the fury of a wounded bear.
    One of the waiters was sent sprawling across the room. Two more rushed to take his place, struggling to subdue the now frenzied gambler.
    Several men at his table, who had lost heavily, pushed back their chairs and jumped into the fray, eager for revenge.
    Annalisa clutched the maitre d’s sleeve, trying to make him understand his error.
    "This is not the man I meant."
    "Please, miss. Not now. This matter will be taken to the captain himself to be settled. We will need your statement later."
    "But you don’t understand. That man isn’t the man who is cheating."
    "You mean there are others?"
    "Yes. No." Tears of frustration sprang to her eyes. Wiping furiously, she hissed, "I don’t even know that gentleman."
    The maitre d’ was clearly agitated. While several crew members and two of the men from the poker table dragged the accused away, he surveyed the damage to the elegant salon, the overturned chairs, spilled drinks, chips littering the floor, then focused his icy attention on the young woman beside him. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
    "You mean to say you accused a man you don’t even know?"
    "You aren’t listening to me," she wailed. "I wasn’t accusing him. You approached the wrong man."
    By this time the headwaiter’s patience snapped. "And shall we keep hauling the players away until there are none left? Young woman, you have made some serious accusations. You will be contacted later by a member of the crew. I’m sure the captain will wish to interview you further."
    As she stood there, feeling crushed and humiliated, he turned on his heel and stormed away to report to the captain.
    Annalisa glanced at the poker tables. The oval table was nearly deserted. Only one man, a member of the crew, still lingered, overseeing the distribution of chips.
    At the other table, the poker game continued. As Annalisa watched, Chase calmly dropped his cards, face up, to the muttered oaths of the others. With a flourish he scooped the chips into a pile beside his elbow. Glancing in her direction, he inclined his head slightly. There was no mistaking the gleam in his eye.
    With a look of pure hatred, she whirled and fled to her cabin.
     
    *  *  *
     
    Annalisa was too angry and distressed to sit still. In frustration she tossed her bonnet and shawl on the bunk and paced the small cabin.
    Stopping, she pulled the