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 Queen._" He consulted some note before him. "I see. Your
name has been mentioned to my client in this connection. I assume you
are fully qualified?"
I told him the facts and referred him to the "Medical Year-Book."
"Moreover," I added, "I have no doubt, if a recommendation were
necessary, Sir John Wemyss, of Harley Street, would be willing to write
to you."
"Sir John Wemyss," he echoed reflectively. "Oh, yes, the cancer man.
Let me see, he was President, wasn't he, of the College of Surgeons?"
"Yes, some years ago," I answered.
"A good man," he declared with a friendly air of patronage. "Well, I
don't suppose there would be any difficulty on that score if Sir John
will write. My client is a prudent man, and would naturally like to
have the best advice available. Moreover, he is quite willing to pay
for it. There is, of course, that question," and he looked at me as if
inviting my suggestion.
I laughed. "Really I have no views, only that naturally I should like
as large a salary as is compatible with the circumstances."
"Very well, Dr. Phillimore," said he, nodding. "I daresay we can
arrange that too. You are young yet, and the position might lead----"
He broke off, as the baize door on his left opened noiselessly. "What
is it, Pye?"
The clerk bent down and whispered to him. "Oh, very well! It's
opportune in a way. Will you ask Mr. Morland to be good enough to come
in?"
The little clerk went out with his neat walk, and the solicitor rose.
"I shall be able to introduce you to my client, who is the owner of the
_Sea Queen_," he said, with a certain change of voice, and quickly
went forward to the outer door.
"How do you do, Mr. Morland?" he exclaimed, with a cheerful deference,
such as was due to the presence of wealth. "I was just engaged on a
little matter of yours. I hope you came right up. These dull offices go
so much by routine. It was the question of a doctor, sir."
As he spoke he indicated me, and for the first time I saw Mr. Morland.
He was a man of thirty-five, of middle height, slightly disposed to
stoutness, but with a fine carriage, and with a bronzed, good-looking
face, rendered heavier for the dull expression of his blue eyes. His
hair, which was short and worn _en brosse_, after a foreign fashion,
was straw-yellow.
"Is it the doctor?" he asked, after a glance at me, and though he spoke
excellent English, there was also something a little foreign in his
accent.
"Well, sir, we haven't reached that point yet," said the lawyer,
smiling. "This is Dr. Phillimore, whom you wished me to----"
"Ah, yes," said Mr. Morland, and he put out a hand mechanically. "You
will arrange it," he said to the other, with an air of command.
"Most certainly, sir, but I thought you would like to see, being on the
spot----"
"No, there is only one thing. You know anything of throats?" he asked
suddenly.
I told him I had studied under a specialist at the hospital, as it
happened. In these days we doctors are compelled to take special
courses in order to keep march with the times.
"That is right," he said, nodding, and the smile that came upon his
face turned the eyes bluer. He looked quite handsome. "We must all keep
step with the times. I will look to you to arrange it," he added again
to the lawyer, and seemed to wait for my dismissal. The solicitor bowed
me sharply from the room, for was not his millionaire client in
waiting? And I went down the stairs.
It was now past four, and as I came out into the Square I saw before me
the little lawyer's clerk who had entered the room and had been called
Pye. He was talking amiably to another man, and as I passed smiled at
me through his pince-nez.
"You saw Mr. Morland?" he asked in a friendly way.
"Yes," I said, and looked at the stranger. There seemed no necessity to
say more.
"It is odd that you should encounter here, gentlemen," said Pye,
adjusting his glasses, "and yet I suppose it isn't. Mr. Holgate, this
gentleman is the future doctor of the _Sea Queen_."
"Oh, dear me, it isn't settled," said I, with a laugh.
Pye beamed at me. "I think I know my chief's face," he said. "It's my
business to interpret him, particularly when he can't interpret
himself."
The other man laughed lazily. He was a man with a big body, and a face
round and gross in proportion, heavy-lidded eyes, and an imperturbable
expression.
"This is Mr. Holgate, the third officer," said Pye, by way of
introduction, and somehow or other we began to walk in the direction of
Holborn. When we had threaded the Great Turnstile the little clerk
hesitated and swung round. "I was going to drink a glass of wine with
Mr. Holgate. Perhaps you would join us, sir?"
"Gladly," said I, for I had made up my mind to take tea before
returning to Wapping, and somehow my interview had inspirited me. I
took a sanguine view of my chances, for all my words to Pye. Moreover,
I have always been interested in my fellow-creatures, and, finally, I
was in the mood for a glass of something. Enters this trio, then, into
the "Three Tuns" presently, and sits to a table in comfortable chairs,
with the clatter of the street falling, like rain, on the senses, and
the bright flare of gas among the dark barrels. There was about the
place an odour of good-fellowship and of peace that pleased me who had
not visited these haunts for years.
Little Pye turned his pince-nez on me as the attendant advanced.
"What'll you have, doctor?" he asked.
I hesitated.
"I suppose it must be port," said I; "port is more palatable and no
more noxious in such places than any other wine."
"Any port in a storm, in fact," said the little man, looking at me
quizzically.
"For my part----" said Holgate, in his stuffy, fat voice.
"Port, you should say," interposed Pye with brisk wit. He smiled at his
smartness and his eyes seemed to challenge me to respond.
"There's nothing to beat spirits--and sound rum for choice, but as they
won't have it here, I'll take brandy," continued the third officer.
He lighted a cigar and began to smoke, examining everything within
eyeshot attentively but with indifference. I think, except for the
first glance he had bestowed upon me, that he had completely ignored my
presence.
Little Pye put up his glass. "I drink," said he, "to a prosperous
voyage, Mr. Holgate, and to pleasant companions."
"Prosperous voyage," said the third officer wheezily, and I murmured
something to the same effect.
"You say the old man's velvet," said Holgate, resuming his puffing.
"Well," said Pye, beaming through his glasses, "I wouldn't go so far as
to say it, but he looks it. He looks kid-glove."
"I hate 'em," growled Holgate. "I've seen that kind on the ferry--all
airs and aitches, and frosty as a berg."
"Well, of course, it would be much more satisfactory to be sailing
under a real Tartar," remarked the little man with mild pleasantry.
Holgate cast him a glance which inquired, but was indifferent. "What's
your idea, doctor?" he asked.
"I have none," said I, smiling. "I am much more interested in third
officers."
His masklike face relaxed, and he stroked his black moustaches, and
took a long pull of his cigar.
"That was very nice of you, doctor," he said, nodding with more
cordiality.
Pye drew an apple from his pocket, and carefully bit into it. I don't
know why, but it struck me as comical to see him at this schoolboy
business, his ears alert, his glasses shining, and his white teeth
going to and fro. He reminded me of a squirrel, a fancy to which the
little tufts of whiskers by his ears lent themselves. He eyed both of
us brightly.
"After all," said the third officer heavily, "it's more important in
the end to know your owner, let alone his travelling with you. I
wouldn't give two straws for the old man, velvet or iron, so long as I
could get the lug of my owner."
"You'll find them both all right," said Pye reassuringly. "Captain Day
I have seen and Mr. Morland I know."
"He is very rich?" I asked.
"I'll trouble you for a two and a half commission on it," said the
clerk cheerfully, "and then I'd live like a fighting-cock. At least,
that's what we all believe. There's no knowing."
The shadows of the November afternoon had gathered in the streets
without, and a thin scant rain was flying. Into the area of warmth and
brightness entered more customers, and shook the water from the
umbrellas. They stood at the bar and drank and talked noisily. Round
about us in the loom of the great barrels the shadows lurched from the
wagging gas-flames. The clerk had finished his apple.
"We will have another," said Holgate.
"This is mine," I said. He shook his head. I protested.
"Doctor, you confess you live in doubt," he said, "whereas I have my
appointment in my pocket. Plainly it is my right."
"I think that's a fair argument, doctor," said Pye.
"I am in both your debt," said I lightly. "For company and wine."
"I'm sure we shall owe you both many a time yet," said the third
officer civilly.
At the table near us two men had sat and were talking even as we, but
one had a half-penny paper, and turned the flimsy thing about, I fancy
in search of racing news.
"You see there is no doubt about you----," began Pye amiably, and
suddenly dropped his sentence.
In the unexpected silence I caught some words from the other table.
"Well, it's good pluck of him if he wants to marry her. What's the odds
if he is a Prince? Live and let live, I say."
Pye's little squirrel head turned round and he stared for a moment at
the speaker, then it came back again.
"You are uncommonly polite," said Holgate irritably.
"I'm sorry. I thought I recognised that voice," said the little man
sweetly. "One gets echoes everywhere. I was going to say we took you
for granted, doctor."
"It's good of you," said I. "But will Mr. Morland?"
"I can practically answer for my employer; I can't say anything about
Mr. Morland, who has, however, authorised us to appoint."
"The yacht is from Hamburg?" said I.
"I believe so," said he.
"And its destination?"
"That knowledge is quite out of my province," said the squirrel
briefly.
When one came to think of it, it was almost a snub, and I had never any
patience for these legal silences. As he shut his jaws he looked a man
who could keep a secret, and knew his own mind. Yet he had been so
easily familiar that I flushed with resentment. Confound these little
professional tricks and solemnities! We were meeting on another ground
than lawyer and client.
"I dare say it will be within the cabin-boy's province to-morrow," said
I, somewhat sharply.
"Very likely," he assented, and Holgate, who had turned at my tone,
exchanged a glance with him.
"Mr. Pye is fond of keeping his own counsel," said the third officer in
his slow voice, "and I'm not sure he isn't right, being a lawyer."
"But he isn't a lawyer here," I protested.
Pye smiled. "No; I'm not," he said, "and please don't remind me of it";
at which we all laughed and grew friendly again. "Well, this is a funny
sort of tea for me," said the clerk presently. "I generally patronise
the A.B.C.," and he rose to go.
Holgate did not move, but sat staring at the fire, which shone on his
broad placid face. "I knew a man once," he observed, "who kept his own
counsel."
"I hope he was a lawyer," said Pye humourously.
"No; he was a steward--the steward of an estate in the North. In the
hills was the wealth of a millionaire; coal, doctor," Holgate looked at
me. "And he kept his counsel and held his tongue."
"With what object?" I asked.
"Oh, a little syndicate succeeded in buying it from the owner, and now
it's a seven-figure affair."
His face had no expression of inquiry or of inviting comment. He had
simply stated history, but I was moved to say flippantly,
"What luck!"
"The steward got it?" asked Pye.
"He romped in," said the third officer.
"And will presently be a baronet," said I lightly.
"Stranger things have happened," he remarked, and began to smile. I
fancy we all smiled, though it was not, of course, altogether
humourous.
"Is that called robbery?" asked Holgate.
"I doubt if the law covers it," said Pye. "No; it's quite an innocent
transaction."
"What is robbery?" I asked cynically. "Lawyers may feel their way amid
the intricacies, but no one else can hope to. I'm stealing now when I
take these matches."
"I will follow your example," said Holgate, and did so.
"I'm not sure that that's not perks," said little Pye with his
quizzical glance.
"Well, is it perks if I buy a picture from you for ten bob which I know
to be worth L1,000?" inquired Holgate.
Pye considered. "I give it up," he said.
"Which only proves," said I, continuing my mood, "that it takes a good
capercutter to move in and out moral sanctions."
"I don't believe I know what that means quite," said Holgate, giving me
the full charge of his steady eyes.
I stooped and warmed my fingers, for the cold blast of the streets was
forbidding. "Well, the most famous people have been those who have
successfully performed the egg dance between commandments," I remarked.
"I suppose they have," said Holgate thoughtfully.
I rose abruptly, and in the glass above the mantelpiece the two figures
behind me came into vision. The little clerk's eyebrows were elevated
in a question, and the men faced each other. Holgate's lips were pursed
and he nodded. I saw this in the flash of rising, and then I turned
about.
"I shall get a wigging," said Pye, seizing his umbrella.
We walked out and I bade them good-bye after a civil exchange of
amenities; then I took an omnibus down Chancery Lane and made for the
Underground. As I travelled back, my thoughts circled about the
situation; I was glad to have made the acquaintance of one or more of
my shipmates, if, of course, I was to join the company. Holgate puzzled
me for a third officer, until I reflected that in these days every
officer had a master's licence. Yet that this man should not by the
force of his evident individuality take higher rank in life surprised
me. What, however, was of most immediate concern to me was the extreme
friendliness of my two companions. Lane was well enough in his way, and
certainly had shown his goodwill; but Holgate was more than this to a
lonely man with an appetite for society. Holgate was intelligent.
I found a few patients waiting, and disposed of them by eight o'clock,
after which I strolled down to the docks, in spite of the drizzle. I
have said that I am interested in my fellows, and, in addition, I
confess to a certain forethought. I walked down to the docks with the
deliberate intention of acquiring some information about the _Sea
Queen_, if that were possible. I knew the name of the owner, or at
least of the man who had chartered her; I had the name and acquaintance
of one or two of the company; but I knew nothing as to her destination,
her properties as a boat, or her time of sailing. Some of this
ignorance I hoped to remedy by my visit. And it seemed that I was in
the way to do so from the start. For no sooner was I on the quay in the
neighbourhood of the yacht than I came upon a handsome young man in the
dress of a superior sailor, with whom I fell into talk. He was
outspoken as a child, but volunteered nothing of his own initiative--an
amiable, sluggish, respectful fellow who was, as he stated,
quartermaster on the _Sea Queen_.
I confessed my interest in her, at which he indulgently supplied me
with information.
"I signed on at Glasgow, sir--and most of us too--and we picked up Mr.
Morland at Hamburg--him and the ladies."
"The ladies!" I echoed, for here was a surprise.
"Yes; two ladies what came with him--Miss Morland and another lady, a
dark one," said my friend.
"Oh!" said I. "Then you're off for a pleasure cruise."
"I hardly know, sir," said he. "They do say New York, but I haven't
heard definite."
That looked in favour of my theory of Mr. Morland as an American. He
was perhaps a Trust King, and Miss Morland a vivacious "beauty" from
Chicago.
Here my companion suggested that I might care to have a look at the
yacht.
"My friend," said I, "you mustn't let me take you on false pretences. I
may be your doctor, and I may be not."
"Oh, that's all right, sir," said he easily. "It can't do no harm.
We're only loading up with provisions, and there's no mess about."
We ascended the gangway, and entered the dark ship, which was
singularly silent. He had already the sailor's affection for his
floating home, and pointed me out one or two points for admiration
which I understood but ill, as they were technical. As we were peeping
into the saloon, a man passed us and stopped sharply.
"That you, Ellison?" he asked in a harsh voice. "Who's that?"
"Only a gentleman having a look round. He's to be doctor," said the
quartermaster.
The man made no reply, but stared at me, and then went on swiftly.
"Rather abrupt," I commented, smiling.
"Oh, that's nothing. It is only his way," said the good-natured fellow.
"He's the boatswain."
"Is Mr. Morland an American?" I asked.
"I don't know, sir. I've hardly seen him. We signed on at Glasgow with
a little slip of a fellow representing Mr. Morland--glasses and
side-whiskers."
"That would be Mr. Pye," I said.
"Very likely. Would you like to take a squint at the engines? Mr.
McCrae is on board."
He led me, without waiting for answer, towards the engine-room, and
called out, "Mr. McCrae!" which brought presently a little, red-faced,
bearded man from the depths. "This gentleman wants to know what you can
do," said my friend, by way of introduction. The engineer nodded
towards me. "We can make eighteen," he said, wiping his hands on a
greasy piece of rag. "Eighteen at a pinch, but I keep her going steady
at fourteen."
"A good boat!" said I.
"Aye, tolerable," he said, and pulled out a sheet of paper, which he
began to peruse under the slender light. "This now's another slap in
the eye for the Emperor," said McCrae, "this business of the Prince."
"What is it?" I asked. "I haven't seen the papers to-night."
He rapped his knuckles on the newspaper. "This Prince Frederic of
Hochburg kicking over the traces. I tell ye I'm real sorry for the old
man. I pity him, Emperor though he be. He's had his sup of troubles."
"But I don't understand what this new one is," I said.
McCrae was not above explaining. "Well, y'see, this Prince Frederic is
the heir to the Duchy of Hochburg, and he has taken up with some
singer, and swears he'll resign his inheritance and marry her. That's
where the mischief is. Not that the man's not right," proceeded the
Scotchman, warming, evidently, to his opinions. "For why should Princes
be exempt from the disposition of Providence. Let him come forward like
a man, and, ye'll see, he'll gain the univairsal sympathy of Europe for
his honesty."
"It certainly increases the Emperor's difficulties," I said. "For with
a vacancy at Hochburg, and the Pan-German movement in full swing----"
"Aye, ye're a student of political affairs," broke in the engineer in
his broad Glasgow accent. "And I'll not say there isn't something to be
said at the present juncture of European politics. But, man, the
principle's all wrong. Why is a man, no better than you or me, to ride
over us, whether it be riches, or kings, or emperors? It's the accident
of birth, and the accident of riches, that dictates to us, and I'm
thinking it ought to be set right by legislation."
"Well, we are getting along to the Millennium famously," said I,
jestingly.
"The Millennium!" he said, with a contemptuous snort.
I think Ellison was pleased to see us getting on so pleasantly in
argument, as he was responsible for the introduction, and he now
ventured on a statement in the hopes, no doubt, of cementing the
acquaintanceship.
"This gentleman's coming along with us, Mr. McCrae," he said.
The engineer looked at me.
"I have put in for doctor, but it's by no means certain," I explained.
"Oh, well, we'll hope it is," he said affably, and to the
quartermaster: "Ellison, this gentleman'll, maybe, take a finger of
whisky to his own health--and ours," he added, with a relaxation of his
grim face at his jest. "Ye'll find a bottle in my cabin."
So when the quartermaster had returned, once more I had to drink to the
success of my application. It appeared that the _Sea Queen_ was peopled
with amiable spirits, if I excepted the boatswain; and as I went over
the side I congratulated myself on having already made the acquaintance
of two more of my shipmates on a friendly footing--if I were destined
to the appointment.
On my way home it struck me that I had already heard of the affair of
Prince Frederic. The remark of the man at the next table in the "Three
Tuns" must have referred to the scandal, and as I reflected on that, I
could see in my mind's eye the little clerk's head go round in a stare
at our neighbours.