"Oh, I'm a bit smaller than you, I know, but all cats are grey in the
dark, and it's infernally dark to-night! Well, so long, and I'm much
obliged to you, I'm sure."

He swung out of the door with his free gait, and I stopped him.

"One word more. Who's your owner?"

"The boss? Oh, Morland--Morland, a regular millionaire."

With that he was gone.

CHAPTER II

IN THE "THREE TUNS"

The next day I had a full round of visits to make, so that I had little
time to think over the adventure of the previous evening. On Saturday I
made my way, as usual, to the West End, and spent the afternoon in
luxury, basking in the renewal of my self-respect. I had leisure then
to reflect, and, although the more I considered the less appeared the
likelihood of any advantage to myself derivable out of Lane's promise,
yet I allowed myself the satisfaction of certain inquiries. No one in
the club had heard of Morland, the millionaire, and the _Sea Queen_ was
unknown to my yachting friends. Moreover, no Morland appeared in the
"Court Guide." Still, it was quite possible, even probable, that he was
an American; so that omission did not abash me. It was only when I
rehearsed the circumstances in bald terms that I doubted to the point
of incredulity. I had fished up a tipsy fellow, of a loose good-nature,
who, under the stimulus of more whisky, had probably at the best
offered more than he was entitled to do, and who, at the worst, had
long since forgotten all about his Good Samaritan. The situation seemed
easy of interpretation, and in the warmth of my pleasant intercourse
with my companions I presently ceased to ponder it.

Yet, when I arrived at my house and opened the letter that awaited me,
I will confess that I experienced a thrill of hope. It was from Hills,
a firm of solicitors in Lincoln's Inn Fields, and, premising that I was
a candidate for the post of doctor in the SS. _Sea Queen_, requested me
to call on Monday at three o'clock. This looked, so to speak, like
business, and I attended at the address with my mind made up and clear.
If I was offered the position I would take it, and so cut my cable.

I had to wait some time in an ante-room, but presently was ushered into
the presence of one of the partners, an amiable, business-like man,
with the air of a country squire.

"Dr. Phillimore?" he queried introductively, and I assented.

"Please sit down, will you. You are anxious to take position of doctor
on the _Sea Qu