ation through the vessel as she sped
along in the quiet night. The Duke was extended on a transom, and
Claudius on the one opposite, while Barker tipped himself about on his
chair at the end of the table. The Duke was talkative, in a disjointed,
monosyllabic fashion.

"Yes. I know. No end of a queer sensation, lots of money. Same thing
happened to me when I came of age."

"Not exactly the same thing," said Claudius; "you knew you were going to
have it."

"No," put in Barker. "Having money and being likely to have it are about
the same as far as spending it goes. Particularly in England."

"I believe the whole thing is a fraud," said the Duke in a tone of
profound reflection. "Never had a cent before I came of age. Seems to me
I never had any since."

"Spent it all in water-melon and fire-crackers, celebrating your
twenty-first birthday, I suppose," suggested Barker.

"Spent it some way, at all events," replied the Duke. "Now, here," he
continued, addressing Barker, "is a man who actually has it, who never
expected to have it, who has got it in hard cash, and in the only way
in which it is worth having--by somebody else's work. Query--what will
Claudius do with his millions?" Exhausted by this effort of speech, the
Duke puffed his tobacco in silence, waiting for an answer. Claudius
laughed, but said nothing.

"I know of one thing he will do with his money. He will get married,"
said Barker.

"For God's sake, Claudius," said the Duke, looking serious, "don't do
that."

"I don't think I will," said Claudius.

"I know better," retorted Barker, "I am quite sure I shall do it myself
some day, and so will you. Do you think if I am caught, you are going to
escape?"

The Duke thought that if Barker knew the Duchess, he might yet save
himself.

"You are no chicken, Barker, and perhaps you are right. If they catch
you they can catch anybody," he said aloud.

"Well, I used to say the mamma was not born who could secure me. But I
am getting old, and my nerves are shaken, and a secret presentiment
tells me I shall be bagged before long, and delivered over to the
tormentors."

"I pity you if you are," said the Duke. "No more poker, and very little
tobacco then."

"Not as bad as that. You are as much married as most men, but it does
not interfere with the innocent delights of your leisure hours, that I
can see."

"Ah, well--you see--I am pretty lucky. The Duchess is a domestic type of
angel. Likes children and b