The _Esperance_ was a well-made boat; she was about four thousand tons,
with improved engines which went at great speed. She was a trading
ship, one of the largest and most important of those belonging to Paget
Brothers, but she sometimes took out emigrants, and had room for a few
saloon passengers; old travellers, who knew what comfort was, sometimes
preferred to go in such ships as the _Esperance_ to the more
conventional lines of steamers. There was less crowding, less fuss;
there was also more room and more comfort. The meals were good and
abundant, and the few passengers, provided they were in any sense of
the word congenial spirits, became quickly friends.
Gerald, as one of the members of the firm, was of course accommodated
with the very best the _Esperance_ could offer. He had a large state
room, well furnished, to himself; he was treated with every possible
respect, and even consulted with regard to trivial matters. Only,
however, with regard to very trivial matters.
When he arrived at Southampton on the evening of the 24th, he went at
once on board the _Esperance_.
"We shall sail at noon to-morrow," he said to the captain.
Captain Jellyby was a pleasant old salt, with a genial, open, sunburnt
face, and those bright peculiar blue eyes which men who spend most of
their lives on the sea often have, as though the reflection of some of
its blue had got into them.
"At noon to-morrow," replied the captain. "Yes, and that is somewhat
late; but we shan't have finished coaling before."
"But we stop at Plymouth surely?"
"Well, perhaps. I cannot positively say. We may be able to go straight
on to Teneriffe."
Gerald did not make any further comments. He retired to his cabin and
unpacked one or two things, then he went into the saloon, and taking up
a book appeared to be absorbed with its contents.
In reality he was not reading. He had written a desperate letter that
morning, and he was upheld even now in this moment of bitterness by a
desperate hope.
Suppose Valentine suddenly found her slumbering heart awake? Suppose
his words, his wild, weak and foolish words, stung it into action?
Suppose the wife cried out for her husband, the awakened heart for its
mate. Suppose she threw all prudence to the winds, and came to him? She
could reach him in time.
He could not help thinking of this as he sat with his hand shading his
eyes, pretending to read in the state saloon of the _Esperance_, the
vessel which was to carry him away to a living death.
If Valentine came, oh yes, if Valentine came, there would be no death.
There might be exile, there might be poverty, there might be dishonor,
but no death. It would be all life then--life, and the flush of a
stained victory.
He owned to himself that if the temptation came he would take it. If
his wife loved him enough to come to him he would tell her all. He
would tell her of the cruel promise wrung from him, and ask her if he
must keep it.
The hours flew by; he raised his head and looked at the clock. Nine, it
was striking nine. He heard a sound on board, and his pulses quickened.
It passed--it was nothing. The clock struck ten, it was a beautiful
starlight night. All the other passengers who had already come on board
were amusing themselves on deck.
Gerald was alone in the saloon. Again there was a sound a little
different from the constant cries of the sailors.
Captain Jellyby's name was shouted, and there was a rush, followed by
renewed activity. Gerald rose slowly, shut his book, and went on deck.
It was a dark night although the sky was clear and full of stars. A man
in an overcoat and collar turned well up over his ears brushed past
Wyndham, made for the gangway and disappeared.
"Good heavens--how like that man was to old Helps," soliloquized
Gerald.
He stayed on deck a little longer; he thought his imagination had
played him a trick, for what could bring Helps on board the
_Esperance_. Presently the captain joined him.