ship companies have their offices. Conspicuous on the left-hand
side were the palatial offices of the Blue Star Line. As he went up the
imposing stone steps leading to the passenger booking-rooms, he thought
bitterly under what different conditions he had last visited these
offices. Then it was to sign articles as stoker on the _Atlanta_.

He entered the room devoted exclusively to first cabin business, and a
clerk, quick to notice his shabby appearance, spoke up impatiently:

"Can't you read? This is first cabin. Steerage and second cabin on the
other side of the hall."

Armitage gave the clerk a look that made the latter wish he had left the
caller alone.

"Who asked you for any information?" he demanded, pretending wrath he
did not feel.

"This is only first class," repeated the clerk peevishly, but not
without feeling some respect to his interlocutor's massive shoulders.

"I don't care whether it's first class or tenth class," growled
Armitage. "Let me see the plan of the _Florida_."

The clerk gasped as he laid the plan before him.

"The lowest in this ship is $150 a berth--two in a room," he said, in a
tone as if he expected this would quickly settle the matter.

"Two in a room--not for mine," said Armitage jovially. "I want something
comfortable. How's this?" he added, pointing to a berth.

"Single berth room--$400," said the clerk blandly.

"I'll take it," replied the new passenger. Peeling off four 100-dollar
bills from the bank-roll, he threw them before the astonished clerk.

"What name, sir?" he asked, more respectfully.

"Sir John Armitage."

The clerk's hand shook so with surprise and nervousness that he dropped
the book-plan on the floor.

Leaving the steamship offices, Armitage proceeded along Broadway,
chuckling. How sweet was the power of money! Now he would be able to
wield this power, to enslave men as they had enslaved him. Yet in the
midst of this new-found joy, he knew there was something still lacking.
He was haunted by a pair of dark eyes, lips that had trembled with
passion he alone had awakened. What good was his money, his new-found
power, if it would not give him the woman he wanted. Engaged to that
spendthrift princeling, she was entirely lost to him. She had sold
herself, and he tried to persuade himself that he despised her for it.

Yet how could he go away without saying good-by? It was different when
everything looked hopeless, when his social standing was immeasurably