"You insolent old scoundrel!" cried Dutch, flashing into a rage; and he caught the old fellow by the throat, but loosened him again with an impatient "Pish!" Rasp seized the poker and sent the red-hot cinders flying as he stoked away at the fire. "I desire that you never speak to me again like that. How dare you!" "Oh, all right, Mr Pug, I won't speak again," said Rasp. "I didn't mean no offence. I only said what I thought, and that was as I didn't like to see that furren chap always a-hanging after going back to your house, when he ought to be here, helping to see to the things getting ready." "Rasp!" said Dutch angrily. "Well, so he ought to, instead of being away. Nobody wants him to take off his yaller kid gloves and work, but he might look on. He's going to be a niste one, he is, when he gets out in the place where we're a-going. He'll have a hammock slung and a hawning over it when he gets out in the hot sunshine, that's about what he'll do, and lie on his back and smoke cigarettes while one works. Say, Mr Pug, I wish you was going with us!" He went and had another stoke at the fire, and glanced at Dutch's back, for he was writing, and made no response. "Sulky, and won't speak," muttered Rasp; and, going out, banged the door after him. "The fancies of a vulgar mind," said Dutch to himself, as soon as he was alone. "The coarse belief of one who cannot understand the purity of feeling and thought of a true woman; and I actually let such ideas have a place in my breast. Bah! It's disgraceful!" He glanced round the office, and then angrily devoted himself once more to his work, for it seemed as if the great goggle-eyed diving-helmets were once more bending forward and laughing at him derisively. "I will not have this office made so hot," he muttered impatiently; and he worked on for some time, but only to fall dreaming again, as he said, "A little more than a fortnight and we shall be ready. Good luck to the expedition. I wish it were gone." Then, in spite of himself, he began thinking about the conduct of Laure at his house, and wishing earnestly that he had never agreed to his reception as a guest. "But, there, he is a perfect gentleman," he argued; "and his conduct to me is almost too effusive. Little Hester must find him all that could be desired, or she would complain. Hallo, who is this?" "Company to see you," said Rasp, roughly; and, as Dutch left his stool, it was to meet Captain Studwick's invalid son and his sister, who came in, accompanied by a quiet, gentlemanly-looking young man, whom he introduced as Mr Meldon. "The medical gentleman who attends me now," said John Studwick, smiling; "not that I want much, do I, Mr Meldon?" "Well, no, we will not call you an invalid, Mr Studwick," said the stranger. "Fact is," said John Studwick, "I've set up a medical man of my own. Mr Meldon is going with us on the voyage." "What voyage?" said Dutch, eagerly.