k, "anything amiss? Your
face is portentous."

"Yes, sir," I answered. He motioned me to a chair, and waited. "I
suppose you're aware, sir, that you have on board Prince Frederic of
Hochburg and his sister," I began.

"Indeed, I'm nothing of the sort," said he sharply. "What on earth is
this nonsense?"

If I had not had such important information to lay before him I might
have been abashed. As it was, I proceeded.

"Well, sir, it's a fact. Mr. Morland is the prince. I have known it
some days, and would have held my tongue but for imperative necessity.
Mr. Pye knows it, and Mr. Holgate."

"This is most astounding," he began, and paced nervously about the
cabin.

"I say Mr. Holgate because I come about him," I pursued. "He has just
made the most shameless and barefaced proposal, which amounts to a plot
to wreck the ship and make off with the prince's property, which is
supposed to amount to a great deal."

Captain Day sat down heavily. "Upon my soul, Dr. Phillimore," he said,
"I shall begin to ask myself whether it is you or I who is mad."

"That is exactly the sort of question I asked myself a few minutes
ago," I replied. "And I've been able to answer it only on the
supposition that your third officer is an amazing scoundrel."

There was the pause of some moments, during which he studied my face,
and at last he went to the bell.

"Very well," he said more calmly, "we can settle it one way, I
suppose." And when the steward appeared, "Ask Mr. Holgate to come to me
at once."

He sat down again, fidgeted with his book, opened it, endeavoured to
read, and glanced at me in a perplexed fashion, as if he distrusted his
eyesight; and so we remained without a word until a knock announced
some one at the door, and the next moment Holgate, large, placid and
respectful, was in the cabin.

"Mr. Holgate," said Captain Day in his most particular voice, "I have
just heard the most remarkable statement by Dr. Phillimore. Perhaps you
will be good enough to repeat it, Dr. Phillimore," and he glanced askew
at me.

I did so bluntly. "This man," I said, "has proposed to me within the
last ten minutes that I should join a plot to cast away the ship and
seize the property of--of Mr. Morland."

Day looked at his third officer. "You hear, Mr. Holgate?" he said.
"What have you to say?"

A broad smile passed over Holgate's fat face. "Yes, sir," he said
coolly, "it is just as Dr. Phillimore says, but the whole thing was a
mere s