it
could be. Claudius would not look like that unless something were wrong,
he thought, and he would certainly come back in five minutes if
everything were right. He had not seen him at breakfast. He took out his
watch softly and let it drop on his book, face upwards. Meanwhile he
talked to the two ladies about the weather, and listened to Miss Skeat's
rapturous account of the spray and the general slipperiness of the upper
regions. When five minutes were elapsed he put his watch back and said
he thought he would try it himself, as he fancied the fresh air would do
him good. So he departed, and obtained a pair of sea-boots and an
oilskin, which he contemplated with disgust, and put on with
resolution. He wanted to find the Duke, and he wanted to see Claudius;
but he wanted them separately.

Mr. Barker cautiously put his head out of the cuddy door and espied the
Duke and his sister. This was not exactly what he wanted, and he would
have retired, but at that moment Lady Victoria caught sight of him, and
immediately called out to him not to be afraid, as it was much smoother
now. But Mr. Barker's caution had proceeded from other causes, and being
detected, he put a bold face on it, stepped on the deck and slammed the
door behind him. Lady Victoria was somewhat surprised to see him tread
the slippery deck with perfect confidence and ease, for she thought he
was something of a "duffer." But Barker knew how to do most things more
or less, and he managed to bow and take off his sou'wester with
considerable grace in spite of the rolling. Having obtained permission
to smoke, he lighted a cigar, crooked one booted leg through the iron
rail, and seated himself on the bulwark, where, as the steamer lurched,
he seemed to be in a rather precarious position. But there was a sort of
cat-like agility in his wiry frame, that bespoke unlimited powers of
balancing and holding on.

"I thought there were more of you," he began, addressing Lady Victoria.
"You seem to be having quite a nice time here."

"Yes."

"I wish I had come up sooner; the atmosphere downstairs is very
oppressive."

"I thought you had neuralgia," said Lady Victoria.

"So I had. But that kind of neuralgia comes and goes very suddenly.
Where is the giant of the North?"

"Dr. Claudius? He went down with Miss Skeat, and when he came up again
he said he would go forward," answered she, giving the nautical
pronunciation to the latter word.

"Oh, I see him," cried Ba