, captain, as to terms?"

I had already made a little mental calculation as to the amount I ought
to ask, and had arrived at a sum which, while it was somewhat less than
I should have received had the whole of the cabins been separately
taken, would pay me just as well in the long run; and this sum I named.

"There is one little matter I should like to mention," I said. "My
mother is now in town with me, and I had promised her that, if all the
cabins were not engaged, she should make the trip home to Weymouth in
the ship--"

"An arrangement with which I would not dream of interfering,"
interrupted the gentleman. "Even should we determine to take your
cabins, captain, we shall certainly not require them all--at the outset
of the voyage, at least--and I am quite sure that your mother's
presence, for the few days that she will probably be with us, will be
the reverse of disagreeable to my wife. And now I cannot, of course,
decide definitely, one way or the other, until I have told my wife what
we have seen; but here is my card; and if you will allow me twenty-four
hours for consideration, you shall have my definite decision within that
time."

As this was the first inquiry I had had from prospective passengers, I
thought the proposal was good enough to justify me in according the
grace asked. I therefore undertook to hold the cabins at my visitors'
disposal until noon next day; and they then left, with a cordial
hand-shake from each.

I waited till they were fairly out of sight, and then looked at the
card. It bore the name of "Sir Edgar Desmond," with an address in Park
Lane, in the corner.

On the following morning, about half-past eleven, the owner of the card
again put in an appearance on board, and, greeting me with the utmost
cordiality, exclaimed--

"Well, captain, I have hurried down to let you know that the account of
our visit to your ship, and the description of her cabins which I was
enabled to give my wife last night, proved so thoroughly satisfactory to
her that it was definitely determined, in family conclave, that we
should secure your cabins upon the terms mentioned by you yesterday. I
have accordingly brought you a cheque for half the amount of our
passage-money--here it is--in order to properly ratify the arrangement;
and now I presume there will be no difficulty about commencing the few
alterations in the cabins that I suggested yesterday?"

"None whatever," I replied; "I will get the ca