He was one of those wonderful anomalies in coat and trousers, at which we gaze curiously, as we speculate to which sex they belong. He had light flaxen hair, perceptibly crimped with hot irons, pale blue eyes, and small, dolly features. The suspicion of a whitey-brown moustache on his upper lip was like the down on an apple-tart. His hands were fat, and short, and white--almost dimpled--and laden with women’s rings. He was dressed in a tight check suit, a brown felt hat, gaiters, and patent-leather shoes. In his hand he carried a small Malacca cane, which he usually swung backwards and forwards, while he stood with his legs well apart; an eyeglass was stuck with so painful an effort into his eye that it distorted his features; and he wore his hat a little to one side, which was intended to give him a rakish appearance. A gold chain of great length and thickness was stretched across his waistcoat. At one end of it dangled his keys, at the other a button-hook. From his breast-pocket peeped out a pink silk handkerchief, placed there for ornament rather than use, and encircling his throat was a white collar, so high and so well starched that he was frequently obliged to place his fingers between the linen and the skin to prevent his throttling. Vernon Blythe looked down at this mannikin with supreme contempt, not unmixed with amusement. ‘I suppose you are an officer of the ship--eh?’ rejoined Mr Greenwood. ‘I suppose I am,’ said Jack coolly. ‘Well, when shall we sail--eh? Can you tell me that?’ ‘By the first tide to-morrow morning.’ ‘But when will the first tide be? I’m a passenger, you see, so I’ve a right to know. Haven’t I--eh? My name is Greenwood--Harold Greenwood. I have one of the deck cabins.’ ‘Why don’t you go down to your dinner?’ asked Jack, ignoring his queries. ‘Oh, because I dined before I came on board. Didn’t know what I might get here, don’t you know? Had dinner with a friend, and a game at billiards. Oh, by the way, have you a billiard-table on board? Awfully jolly game billiards, don’t you know?’ and placing his hand upon the pipe rail, whilst he used his cane for a cue, Mr Greenwood commenced pushing away at an imaginary ball. To this absurd question Jack Blythe again vouchsafed no answer. ‘I say, do you like waltzing?--awfully nice waltzing,’ resumed the youth, commencing to whistle, and dance round in a circle with his cane for a partner. ‘I suppose we shall have a dance every evening? I hear there are some devilish pretty girls on board, and it will be our duty to pay them some attention. We shall miss the rides in the Row, and the shooting awfully, don’t you know?’ he went on, pretending his cane was a gun, and levelling it at the main-topsail block; ‘but we must make the best of it, and a bit of flirtation ain’t such bad fun on a long voyage, don’t you know? It passes the time, and it pleases the girls, and so it does good all round, eh?’