That night I reported to Smutje that each of the other men had eaten approximately an equal amount of peas. It was not part of the bargain to report that I had scarcely eaten any. I promised to continue the hunt for the culprit, and Smutje was confirmed in his opinion that I was the only honest man aboard. The _Cæsarea_ docked in Melbourne, and there an important event occurred. The captain invited the German consul to dinner, and then took counsel with Smutje. "We must have something good when the consul comes." Smutje immediately fell in with the suggestion and replied: "Yes, on such an occasion nothing is too good." The captain restrained his enthusiasm. "But there must not be too much expense." "No, certainly not. Let us have ducks. That is something good and does not cost much around here." I heard the captain inviting the first mate to his table. "But don't forget to put on a white collar, Mate. It is the consul who is coming." "Thank you, sir, thank you." And the first mate grinned all over his face. Then the captain tackled the second mate. "I invite you to supper to-night at eight bells. The consul is coming." "Thank you, sir, thank you." The second mate wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. It was on a Saturday. I sat near the porthole of the galley, patching my trousers and very busy at it. All the while I kept an eye on Smutje preparing the ducks. They were roasted, stuffed with prunes and apples, and I do love them that way. I was waiting for the moment when Smutje would go aft to get something. I didn't see the captain. He was sitting on the bridge reading his newspaper, apparently. He had made a hole in the middle of the page, through which he looked down into the open door of the galley and kept his eye on the ducks. At first he did not see me. The mast was in the way. Then he happened to lean to one side, and caught sight of me near the porthole industriously mending my trousers. Suddenly, a marlinespike came flying past me. "You loafer, by Joe. What are you sniffing around the galley for? And so you brought your pants along for wrapping purposes!" I promptly moved on. At night the consul came. The captain and the mates were all dolled up. They had even cleaned their finger nails. In the cabin the consul was the only one who was given a napkin. On the skylight sat Nauke and I. We watched the ducks on the table. We had brought along a boat hook, waiting for the moment when the consul should leave. The consul ate well, but the captain seemed to have very little appetite. He took only one small helping of the duck. The two mates held back out of politeness. It would have been bad manners for them to eat more than the captain.