fitting-out of the ship.

While we were walking round the decks, making a leisurely inspection of
such matters as would repay examination in this part of the ship, a very
respectable, seaman-like fellow came on board, and was first accosted by
my companion and then introduced to me as "Captain Thomson, our late
skipper of the _Esmeralda_; now looking after the ship until she finds a
purchaser. Mr Saint Leger," my companion continued explanatorily, "has
come on board to inspect the ship, with some idea of buying, if he finds
her satisfactory."

"I am very glad to hear it," answered Thomson, "for she is altogether
too good to be laid up idle. As to her being satisfactory--why, that of
course depends upon what Mr Saint Leger wants; the ship may be either
too large or too small for him; but I'll defy any man to find a _fault_
in her. She's a beauty, sir," he continued, turning to me, "and she's
every bit as good as she looks."

My unknown friend here pulled out his watch and looked at it anxiously.

"I wonder," he said, "whether you will consider me very rude if I
propose to run away, and leave Captain Thomson to do the honours of the
ship in my stead? I should like to remain with you; but the fact is
that I have rather an important meeting to attend in the City; and I see
that I have no time to lose if I am to be punctual. And Thomson really
knows a great deal more about the ship than I do; consequently he will
be able to give you more reliable information than I can."

I of course begged that he would not put himself to the slightest
inconvenience on my account, and expressed myself as being perfectly
satisfied at being left in the hands of the skipper of the ship;
whereupon he turned to Thomson and said--

"Let Mr Saint Leger see everything without reserve, Thomson; and tell
him anything he wishes to know, if you please. We have no desire
whatever to sell the ship by means of misrepresentation of any sort.
Good-bye," he continued, turning to me, and offering his hand; "I hope
we shall see you again, and be able to do business with you."

He raised his hat, stepped briskly along the gang-plank, and was soon
lost sight of in the crowd.

"Who is that gentleman?" I inquired of Thomson, as the figure vanished.

"That is Mr Musgrave, the junior partner of the firm, and as nice a
gentleman as ever stepped," was the reply.

"Have you been long in the employ?" was my next question.

"For the last eighteen years